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Two high schools students write opposing essays on the paperless classroom.

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PRO
By Isabel Ibarra

This year has been a big change for all of us Pres girls, no doubt. Our new iPads have changed the way our classroom functions and the way we do homework, class lessons and even quizzes and tests. We have changed from using paper for nearly everything to having empty binders with only a few papers per class.

This change has been beneficial for all students. Though not all students see it, our iPads have made our school life easier in more ways than one.

First, though not all students have had this chance quite yet, many classes are giving the opportunity to buy ebooks rather than print textbooks. Not only are these ebooks often cheaper, but they also are decreasing the weight of our backpacks. It can be difficult to lug around backpacks full of big, hardback textbooks. With our iPads, we can access the textbooks anyday at anytime, and they don't have to weigh ten pounds.

With our iPads, we also have more capabilities for learning. Apps like iMovie and ScreenChomp make it easier to do projects and assignments for classes. Before our iPads, we had to have certain computers with the right capabilities that made projects harder for some students and easier for others.

Apps like Notability make it much easier to learn in class. Now, teachers share PowerPoints with students so that we don't have to write down the slides word-for-word. Instead, we can pay better attention to what the teacher is saying rather than scramble to get every word down before he or she clicks on to the next slide.

Furthermore, many classes are giving us the opportunity to turn in our assignments online, through apps like Canvas or Google Drive. No more are the days of rushing to the printers in the morning before school because our home printers ran out of ink or just suddenly stopped working. Turning in assignments online saves us time and energy, and probably a good amount of stress too.

Some classes no longer even give out unit calendars in paper. Everything is through Google Drive and Canvas, which can have a positive impact on the amount of paper we use. Though there hasn't been a big change in amount of paper we use, there is potential for a big savings. Kyle Brumbaugh, director of technology here at Pres, said, "I believe that the amount will go down over time, since it will take time for teachers to get use to distributing and collecting work in a digital format. The money savings will increase over time, but it is also dependent on the extent that teachers and students use the technology they have access to."

Using less paper and more technology has definitely changed how Pres runs in many ways. From Google Drive to Notability to Canvas, Pres girls have many more opportunities to have an easier and better learning experience. You can't walk down a hallway or into a classroom without seeing multiple Pres girls on their iPads doing homework. And really, with the quickly changing technology in the world, it's clear to see that Pres is keeping up.

While it may seem to have its benefits, the switch to a paperless education is not as glamorous as it sounds.

Going paperless has provided students with more opportunities for distractions while in class. This makes for an inadequate learning environment, as students are focusing more on their tech devices instead of what's going on in class. 59% of the 216 students who responded to our survey have used iMessage to text someone, and 69% have AirDropped a picture to a friend, all during class periods.

The paperless switch diverts students attention away from the classroom and into the world of their technology. "I've also had a few teachers mention that conversation in class has really gone down because students are always looking at their iPads rather than really listening to the conversation," said Maria Agresta, senior, about the lack of participation in class.

41% of survey responders even report being more distracted in class now that the school has gone paperless.

Besides distractions, the paperless switch has also allowed more room for human error. Documents may be uploaded or shared wrong, making them inaccessible to students.

One of the most recent problems girls on campus have been having is forgetting to turn their bluetooth keyboards off while not in use. This, in turn, causes their iPad to be locked up.

"Those 30 girls who had their iPads locked, there's no way to recover from that," said Gene Tognetti, Presentation's Education Tech. Coach, in reference to the students with bluetooth keyboard problems. "We had to completely wipe them out and start from scratch."

Due to this human error, students had to have their devices completely wiped clean, meaning that, if they didn't back up any of their information, they lost all of the documents on their device.

While simple human error does account for most paperless problems, unforeseen tech issues that are out of student control still come up as a result of going paperless. 58% of survey responders have already experienced problems when accessing documents on Google Drive or Canvas either at home or at Pres.

Should the Internet crash unexpectedly or applications on the iPad stop working, students would have an even harder time accessing their necessary documents.

"Technology, especially Internet, can be so unreliable and takes time away from classes and homework in order to correct situations," said Jalene Weatherholt, senior.

Provided with a paper copy of their documents, however, students would not need to worry about possible tech delays. Their ability to access important documents and turn in assignments on time would not be contingent on potential technical issues out of their control.

Although proponents of the paperless movement make the argument that going paperless is more eco-friendly, it's not as environmentally sustainable as it sounds.

According to the Printing and Graphics Association of the MidAtlantic's campaign, Print Grows Trees, "by depressing the market for paper and wood products, we encourage landowners to 'cut and run' - harvest their primary forestland for quick income and then sell the land instead of growing more trees."

What this means is that cutting the use of paper won't actually put an end to deforestation; it will only perpetuate it.

Now, the school hasn't gone 100% paperless: students are still able to use paper handouts and write in notebooks should they choose to do so. The biggest concern with going paperless lies in determining what can go online and what simply has to be on paper.

Tognetti aptly sums up the struggle. "Sometimes people think, 'I need to be 100% paperless,' and that's just not reality...The challenge is, when is it right to be paperless...or when do I still actually need the students to have a piece of paper in front of them."

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PRO By Isabel Ibarra This year has been a big change for all of us Pres girls, no doubt. Our new iPads have changed the way our classroom functions and the way we do homework, class lessons and even quizzes and tests. We have changed from using paper for nearly everything to having empty binders...

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Using Google Forms to make quizzes/tests

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Ultimate Guide to the Paperless Classroom

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Ultimate Guide to the Paperless Classroom

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Many top educators and administrators view the idea of a paperless classroom as an inevitability in education. In today's digital age, these educators believe that a paperless classroom promotes a more efficient and organized classroom while preparing students for the practical world outside classroom walls. In other words, if every facet of life is becoming increasingly reliant on technology, then why not equip students accordingly?

"We need technology in every classroom and in every student's and teacher's hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time," said esteemed author and educator David Warlick. "It is the lens through which we experience much of our world."

This sentiment is shared by many educators, administrators, and parents in the educational community, and for good reason. However, implementing a plan through technological mediums still necessitates the same care and mindfulness of creating a conventional lesson plan, and transitioning to online platforms isn't without its own unique hurdles.

Practical First Steps (and Challenges) for the Paperless Classroom

Image via Flickr by mortsan

According to a recent article by Educational Technology and Mobile Learning, using a simple visualization Web tool - such as Stat Planet for creating infographics - coupled with a document-sharing tool like Google Drive is an excellent first step to explore the potential of paperless teaching methods. These Web tools deliver key concepts to students while promoting collaboration and improving classroom efficiency, both of which are demonstrable advantages of the paperless classroom. By utilizing and mastering a few online tools (and not introducing too many at once), educators can explore paperless benefits and transition slowly into a completely paperless classroom.

Before introducing these new elements, however, it's vital that educators are knowledgeable and comfortable with administering all Web tools to be used in the classroom. A lack of in-depth educator training will inevitably cause hiccups in workflow, cause undue teacher and student frustration, and compromise classroom efficiency.

Access to devices and adequate Internet bandwidth are also practical needs for making the switch to a paperless classroom. Needless to say, some schools are more readily equipped to transition than others. Budget allocation is always a hot topic, particularly for public schools, so creating line-item budget plans with administration for the paperless classroom is a crucial first step. However, as devices become less expensive, implementing a paperless classroom is becoming more financially practical.

When these simple first steps are introduced and conscientiously implemented, transitioning to a paperless classroom is a results-proven option and not an experimental, theoretical proposition.

Learning Management Solutions and Classroom Websites

Increased classroom productivity and efficient time management are key aspirations for any educator. When properly used, a learning management solution (LMS) is the virtual classroom that enables educators to better meet these goals. These online ecosystems allow students to interact with teachers and peers, access assignments, explore content, and more. While there are hundreds of learning management solutions, Moodle and Blackboard are two popular platforms because of their flexibility, ease of use, and robust features.

Although implementing an LMS is a popular option, many educators also choose to create their own website, either through a simple blog platform or by constructing a template. Google recently introduced an easy-to-install, Open Source (Apache 2.0) Course Builder for educators. Through a comprehensive process, an educator can set up and customize his or her classroom's site.

Whether you choose an LMS or build a website, the online platform will serve as the backbone for your paperless classroom. Working in tandem with your platform, educational apps will offer administrative services, organize documents, and facilitate collaboration between teacher and students.

Helpful Apps for Interaction and Collaboration

To manage a paperless classroom, the right apps are very important. When it comes to organizing, sharing, and collaborating on documents, Google Docs is an excellent paperless classroom tool. Instead of running your red ink dry, Google Docs offers multiple ways to offer critiques and allows teachers to have a dialogue with students in real-time. Teachers simply highlight and comment on a section, and students have the ability to comment or request clarification. For educators, Google Docs also features research tools, allowing teachers to easily add images, graphics, or any other relevant content to an existing document.

Many educational guides, first-hand teacher accounts, and articles (including this article by Edutopia) cite Evernote as a ubiquitously useful tool in the paperless classroom. Evernote is a note-taking application that can organize lesson plans, manage workflow, clip content from the Web, and much more. Simple to use, free, and compatible with virtually all mobile devices and desktop computers, Evernote automatically syncs across multiple platforms, allowing teachers to share information with students effortlessly. With Evernote, students can take notes, store and share information, and organize assignments.

When Edudemic covered digital student portfolios last year, we found that Evernote is also useful for creating an e-portfolio to document a student's progress. By accessing an organizational application such as Evernote, parents can easily follow the classroom curriculum, and both teachers and parents can track students' progress.

Recent Trends Toward the Paperless Classroom

In 2013, PBS LearningMedia conducted a nationwide survey of K-12 educators to provide a snapshot of the technology being used in the classroom and to gauge teachers' overall attitudes toward classroom technology. Of the educators surveyed, approximately 75 percent considered technology beneficial to multiple facets of learning. Educators stated that technology allowed information to be reinforced and expanded while accommodating various learning styles. In addition, roughly half of teachers reported using technology for online lesson plans, and a bit under half reported using digital devices for online games and activities.

The growing trend of using technology to go paperless is due, in part, to the increasing access to devices. In fact, the PBS LearningMedia study showed that more than one-third of teachers now use a tablet or e-reader in their classroom -a 20 percent increase from 2012. According to a survey by EdTechReview, 94 percent of educators also reported that students demonstrated improved learning and achievement when technology, such as a tablet, was integrated into the classroom. EdSurge also recently published a piece about how students feel about going paperless, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

A paperless classroom offers students an interactive, resource-filled platform that also strengthens practical skills. Such skills as technological know-how and peer collaboration are crucial in the modern world. As teachers continue to acclimate to new educational technology, paperless classrooms will continue to redefine teaching methodologies. With the right technology and careful implementation, the paperless classroom can create boundless possibilities for future education.

What do you think of paperless classrooms and what are your experiences? Get in touch through Twitter @Edudemic or talk to us on our Facebook page!

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Ultimate Guide to the Paperless Classroom

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Many top educators and administrators view the idea of a paperless classroom as an inevitability in education. In today's digital age, these educators believe that a paperless classroom promotes a more efficient and organized classroom while preparing students for the practical world outside classroom walls.

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Going paperless has a lot of benefits.

Work time can be more productive. What students produce can be shared widely. And think of the thousands of sheets of paper saved.

When I ditched my textbooks several years ago, I moved toward more electronic means of doing almost everything in my classroom. Here are 20 ways my classes improved though going more digital ways and less paper.

And if this list seems overwhelming, don't worry. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a paperless classroom. Find one or two useful tools in the list and start the journey.

3. Creation - Plenty of great products of learning can be created online and then shared with classmates or the world. Google Apps boasts powerful tools that can create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings and more online. Those creations can be shared with a link or embedded in webpages for others to see and work with.

4. Demonstration - New content can be shown to the world, extending the learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. SlideShare showcases slideshows for students or teachers. Narrable uses images and audio to create multimedia presentations.

5. Online hub - A class website is a great centralized location for posting links to important sites, explaining content, assigning activities and displaying student work. I created a Weebly site where students can access my study guides and practically anything else they need for my class. Other options, like Google Sites, would work, too.

9. Engaging practice activities - Practice makes permanent, as they say, and great practice options like Quizlet flashcard sets and Class Tools video games can make that repetition less monotonous.

10. Media tools - Creating and manipulating media can make lasting connections to content and engage students effectively. Podcasts are easily created with free Audacity software. (Note: My "Broadcast with Podcasts" workshop resources offer easy how-to steps to use Audacity and several in-class applications of podcasts.) Many great video creation options exist, including PowToon (for easy animated videos) or WeVideo (for video editing). I created a Tech Tuesday Screencast for WeVideo.

11. Homework help - Backchannel sites like TodaysMeet and Backchannel Chat can be great places for students and teachers (or students and other students!) to meet outside of school hours to provide support. Or students working in a collaborative Google document can use its built-in chat feature to have conversations digitally.

14. Lesson and curriculum planning - The shift to digital isn't just for students! Lessons and curriculum can be planned in a shared space like a document or spreadsheet in Google Drive. Teachers can create Google Forms for lesson planning, too. A form with the date, class, activities and standards funnels that data into a spreadsheet of lessons (like a digital lesson plan book) that can be searched and sorted. (Thanks, John Wells, for the idea.)

16. Intriguing kickstart activities - Start class with a bang. Gather and display student responses in an Answer Garden. Take a class survey for assessment or student choice using Poll Everywhere or Mentimeter. Or display a great Creative Commons (i.e. usable without copyright infringement) photo from Flickr.

17. Varied viewpoints - Pull in opinions and world views from people all over the globe. Connect with experts in your field. There's a lot of educational chatter going among students and educators on Twitter, Google Plus and other social media. Connect to a content area with one of these educational Twitter chats or hashtags.

18. Quality content - Plenty of relevant content is ready to be pulled into your class online. TED Talks are a great source of inspiration. Digital curriculum options abound at SAS Pathways, Khan Academy and NBC Learn. Free Stanford engineering courses, UC Berkeley courses and MIT courses, among others, are available.

20. Feedback - Teacher and peer feedback can be delivered instantly and easily. Comments can be added to virtually anything by teachers, students or others (imagine feedback from experts in the field!) created with Google Drive. Teachers can give a visual and vocal touch to grading student work by creating a screencast ( Screencast-O-Matic or Screenr) to explain its strengths and weaknesses.

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20 features of a great paperless classroom - Ditch That Textbook

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Going paperless has a lot of benefits. Work time can be more productive. What students produce can be shared widely. And think of the thousands of sheets of paper saved. When I ditched my textbooks several years ago, I moved toward more electronic means of doing almost everything in my classroom.