Online Classrooms: Almost Paperless
Posted by Pamela Gustafson on February 23rd, 2009
Hard copy was not common in any of my online classes. I did have to purchase two required reference books for the class “Integrating Technology into Reading”. These books were designed for teachers studying digital technology. I reviewed them but never really used them, and they are now obsolete and collecting dust on my basement bookshelf. I bought them at the infancy of the read/write web and much has happened since they were published. Books about technology become dinosaurs quickly!
There were other materials and equipment that made online education easier. A headset with combined earphones and microphone made online chats enjoyable. I could listen and speak, with my hands free to type or respond on a whiteboard. I was fortunate to have a combination scanner and printer, to scan and immediately upload copies of my student’s work, however I find scanning cumbersome and slow.
All the documents necessary for the class were linked to the web site where the class was hosted. Occasionally I would print them to read and study when I knew I was not going to be near a computer. I took the printed copies to the doctor’s office, since there could be a long wait. I could maximize my study time reading when I was forced to wait somewhere.
Many of my classes were nearly paperless. If I did use paper, it was not because my instructor required me to print something. I only used it to fill down time. I spent a lifetime using reams of paper in my college classes and in my own job as an elementary teacher. Currently, I have no desire to sift through piles of paper. My desks at home and school are cleaner, and I have ventured into uncharted territory, allowing my own students to post material online in a paperless format. I scan which of my students have neglected to turn in their online word documents. They no longer have the comfort of waiting a day or two for my wrath! The trees in America are breathing a sigh of relief!
Tags: Online Materials, paperless classroom
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This entry was posted on Monday, February 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 am and is filed under Online Materials, Student Voices. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
