subject: Helpful hints for a paperless classroom [print this page] Helpful hints for a paperless classroom Helpful hints for a paperless classroom
Everyone nowadays is engaged in some way or other to save the world, from recycling, saving power to saving the trees. Using less paper is one good way to help the environment.. One good way to start is by having a paperless classroom.
The paperless classroom can start through the use of technology and several latest gadgets. Devices such as the Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) or an Apple IPad/IPod can go a long way in reducing the amount of paper used in a classroom.Portable devices such as laptops may help not just teachers in making it simpler to present the material to the students but also helps students in maintaining their notes and doing their research..
Use of mobile devices or laptops especially helps ESL/EFL students as they assist tailor the pace at which the student is learning the English language.. PDAs that have the ability to connect to the web helps in ways that haven't been imagined before. Each student can use the device to submit their homework into a online classroom portal making it very convenient for the teacher to grade their work online.. This method allows the teacher to possess a back up of each student's homework so that the work is not lost. Aside from saving trees, using technology in a classroom saves cost incurred in printing and paper and at the same time makes it easier for a teacher as the data is organized and easily available..
When students take their notes on a laptop or any other portable device, they have lesser need of printing the material thus reducing paper waste.. When the students learn to use their PDAs there are no more multiple copies or backups to contend with.
Although providing devices and technology has a higher upfront cost, it pays for itself pretty quickly helping schools save money in the long run.. Students can read the classic literature needed in their literature classes on the PDA. Because there is virtually no paper used in the new classroom the school can save money on the purchase of paper for their student population. Other than the use of devices, there are lots of online services and softwares that are available for teachers and students alike. One of them is a text to speech service that can assist students with their reading.. These online text to speech services enables students to listen to text rather than having the student read it themselves.. Some of these text to speech services go one step further and makes it very convenient to students by providing options to adjust the speed of the voice. ESL/EFL students can also benefit from the text to speech services by understanding how the natives pronounce certain sentences..
In conclusion, the one thing that is really important for a paperless classroom is every student getting access to a computer or a portable device.
