Paperless+Instruction

Many schools are attempting to become "paperless" to both facilitate learning and grading assignments, as well as helping the environment. Becoming a paperless school involves many different aspects. Students use PDA's in the classroom to submit assignments and to take notes, rather than handing in papers and using notebooks to take notes. Another good thing about PDAs is that they allow students to connect to the internet, but only to access various books selected by the teacher, which in turn allows schools to save money on books. One school that has been famous for its paperless attempt is Hatboro-Horsham High School in Pennsylvania. They first started this journey to help reduce the amount of paper used each year in its districts school, but it has helped the school in many other ways. Tests, homeworks, and other assignment are submitted to the students through the PDAs over the school's internet, and the teachers as well receive their memos electronically. Something for the future... Online Attendence? http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech059.shtml

Another tool that teachers can use in order to create a paperless instruction in their classrooms is the AGE tool. The AGE tool is used for homework, assignments, etc. to be posted on computers. AGE is a software tool that allows teachers to create instant digital self correcting and small sized worksheets. With AGE, teachers can easily go online and grade projects that the students as they do not have to worry about losing a sheet of paper that a student turns in. This can be found at http://www.paperlesshomework.com/

The idea of a "paperless classroom" first stemmed from the idea of saving trees and helping the environment. Using the idea of a "paperless environment", teachers and students now use network folders in order to distribute things such as homework and other documents through the schools intranet. Teachers can recieve important documents in the morning electronically, instead of having to make hundreds of photo copies that can waste a great deal of paper. Something else being explored is online attendence. An important aspect of a "paperless classrsoom" is that something as important as grades needs to be secured on a public internet system.

Paperless Instruction seems to be a good idea for many reasons, but there are some things that teachers would have to consider before making their environment a "paperless classroom." As we all know, technology today is not always 100% reliable. Computers crash on an everyday basis and cell phones are not always useable. In a paperless classroom, the teacher would have to have a back up just incase a computer system, clicker, or whatever technology tool they were using did not work. Unfortunately today, people rely heavily on their technology tools and when something of theirs does not work it can be of great inconvenience. Paperless Instruction can be a great tool, but with all things, we must look at the consequences before we rush into making a huge change or decision.

Paperless instruction is becoming more and more common. An advantage to paperless instruction is that by using media and technology, the students interest and participation may be heightened. In addition, students are able to provide feedback, comments, and questions immediately. Also, keeping track of grades will no longer be a problem; students will be able to keep track of their grades by using the online grade keeper.
 * Paperless Instruction Advantages and Disadvantages**

However, there are some upsets to the use of paperless instruction. Students computer and technology skills vary; thus a student, or a teacher for that matter, may not feel comfortable with using the computer. In addition, not all students may be able to learn directly from the computer. This may result in the students' need to print out all materials which can prove to be costly. Also when using technology one must accept the possibility that it may malfunction at any time. Unlike books, paperless instruction's constant availability can vary. http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/Articles/Paperless/start.htm