Paperless Classrooms & Going Green!
April 14, 2008
Upon the last day of our blog moderating, we wanted to bring up the issue of going green since investing in a paperless classroom is such a helpful step.
As future teachers, we realize that it is not only our job to teach students academics, but also give them life knowledge and skills to become educated, successful members of this society.
We’d like you to consider how a green classroom could encourage and teach students how to care for their environment (in this time of enviromental crisis) and contribute to the saving of our planet.
I know this is brief, but the topic is such an important one to touch on.
–jess
In order to educated students on the benefits of working in a green classroom and making them aware that the in doing so will help save the planet, students can research how the steps taken in class toward providing paperless classrooms can impact the world on a positive level. A teacher might implement a unit on being “green” in the classroom by designating days and workshops in the computer lab where no paper is distributed: webquests for example. As a follow up, the class can continue work in the computer lab drawing from their previous experiences without using paper to research ways that a paperless classroom is beneficial to the world (*Much like the blog moderation that jess and kristin have introduced to our class.) In doing this, students will have been made aware of the ways a paperless classroom functions, and they can then form their opinions based on the experience. Here is a website of a class that embarked on a paperless classroom journey.
http://www.paperlessclassroom.org/story.htm
-Autumn
I agree with Autumn. the “green” unit would be a perfect opportunity for students to realize the implications of their “green” classroom, as well as the importance of their own lifestyle choices. Teachers use SO much paper! My host teacher has to make 110 copies of EVERY handout, packet, exam, etc. and she needs multiple different things each day! If just her classroom went “green,” there would be such a difference. I can just imagine if the whole SCHOOL went green (it’s a large urban school). That would be such an amazing accomplishment and it would save so many resources. It is important for our students to realize that the world is everybody’s and that they should all try to make as much of a difference as they can!
Krystina
I agree that a paperless classroom will have a huge impact on the green movement. As Krystina mentioned with her placement, that is using a lot of paper. The more media expands the greater tools as teachers we will have to use technology to benefit the earth. Autumn’s idea of incorporating a lesson plan to teach students about being green is a great idea.
Many schools might not ever have the ability to go completely paperless but as teachers there are other things we can do as teachers to go green. If we must use paper and other resources having our students recycle what use can be a step in the right direction. I also know teachers that make only enough copies for one class and then redistribute them each time.
This article I found discusses what local schools are doing towards the green movement.They also include a list of ideas that the schools have incorporated in there everyday classrooms. http://www.uticaod.com/education/x1855993691
I think it’s really exciting to see that the green movement has taken such a priority for many people and schools.
Bree, I like the idea of making enough copies for only one class and then having students turn the sheets back in, according to Krystina one teacher could go from 110 copies to 30! And really, if we had students copy things in notebooks, they’d probably have a better chance of not losing the infomation!
Kristin you are absolutely right! Students are much more likely to lose things when they are on paper, rahter than being stored in their computer or other device. A paperless classroom is an ideal situation for a school to be in, but unfortunately at this time right now its not totally realistic. Hopefully with the increase of the “green” movement and the impact it is making on society our schools systems will be updated and give the resources to make the first steps!
I think going green is important and students really need to be taught how to do so effectively. I think one day this will happen and probably in our own teaching careers. We might not be the movement to paperless, but i think we will definitely be part ofit.
Jackie
My brother is a student at the School of Environmental Sciences @ Syracuse and he always tells me about the incredibly scary and inevitable direction our life on Earth is headed toward. Therefore, I have become more aware about the importance of going green and I think students should feel the same way. As a future teacher, I will definitly be using paper products as little as possible. One of my professors here at Cortland manages to have our Spanish class almost paperless and it is actually kind of nice. By limiting the amount of dittos and using paper for notes when necessary, a student will also feel less overwhelmed by the clutter and mess those articles of paper can create. Just as Kristin has mentioned, studentds will have an easier way of keeping track of their school materials. This is where the internet and using computers in the classroom will begin to reduce the use of paper. And, while possibly turrning to recycled paper may seem like a better alternative, trying to go paperless is probably best. Apparently, not every type of so-called “recycled paper” is actually biodegradable or even good for the environment according to this website I found about trees : http://www.treecycle.com/papers/alt_fiber.html
I think that every classroom should go green! It’s one of those things that will eventually have the snowball effect: the difference we are making will continue to get bigger and bigger as more people join! It’s a great way for us to introduce to students the idea that they are future citizens who ARE capable of making a significant change in our school, community, and WORLD! I found this one website that I thought was interesting and also a little funny: http://www.treehugger.com/gogreen.php
It gives you the Top 10 Ways to make things greener. Some of the things listed are your funeral, your kids toys, your baby, your pet, your meals, and many more! I never really realized how many small things I can do to make a big difference! This blog has really opened my eyes up to that. I hope to do the same for my own students.
I defiantly agree with Stacia that paperless classrooms with show students that they are capable of making a difference. Because students are actually contributing to helping the environment, they are learning that their actions are meaningful. Hopefully students will take going green in the classroom, and contribute as much as they can outside of the classroom. They will be more eager to apply the ideas from Stacia’s link if they become active participants in going green.
It seems no one disagrees, and I surely don’t. Teaching the importance of recycling is something that should be done for younger students, perhaps 10th grade or so, so that they aren’t too young to where they’ll forget it, but they’re young enough that it may impact them. Check this site out:
http://eetd.lbl.gov/paper/ideas/html/uspaperuse.htm
It’s not exactly related to the classroom, but it’s definitely pertinent to the green movement. Each American uses 700 pounds of paper a year! Maybe with this paperless technology, it would be a slap to mother nature’s face NOT to go paperless! The work place is all digital, usually, so why shouldn’t the classroom be too?
I completely agree that we should be focussing more on “Going Green” to protect our planet’s environment. I think this is a serious issue that is clearly overlooked everyday by many American’s and our political leaders as well. By instilling these thoughts in our student’s heads and getting them in the habit of “Going Green” then we can potentially help them “Stay Green.” If the school I am employed at has the money to provide our classrooms with computers for every student then I intend on taking full advantage of the Paperless Classroom concept. I think this is an easy way to give a small contribution to protecting our environment. I think it’s also important to educate our students about the things they can do personally at home to be environmentally conscious.
I found this whole section on the National Geographic website that has a guide for staying green. I think it’s beneficial to introduce to our future students and to keep in mind ourselves in our own personal lifestyles.
http://www.thegreenguide.com/