Paperless+Tricks

__All Digital: The Paperless Classroom for less than $100__ by Torrence Temple, Azusa Pacific University, Mesa High School tory.temple@gmail.com

Torrence had a few simple ideas to go paperless in your classroom: 1. Your Web Site Having a web site that is functional, clear, and easy to navigate is key to your paperless classroom Options for web sites:
 * Dreamweaver ($$$), Godaddy ($$), Webhosting (AT&T) ($$), Wordpress ($), Google Pages ($)
 * Things to consider for your web site:
 * texts load faster than photos
 * create logo
 * create a banner to identify your organization
 * use a graphic footer
 * On your web site your front page should have the following
 * link to syllabus
 * menu
 * link to announcements
 * general information about your class
 * The functional part of your website should:
 * post assignments
 * most recent assignments should be first
 * supply date ranges for assignments and assessments
 * organize content by weeks
 * links to videos can be used as teaching lessons, homework, makeup work
 * have links to your classroom documents

2. Content Delivery Effective content delivery is at the core of your classroom and your website Options for content delivery:
 * Camtasia + tablets ($$$), Camtasia + inter.write pad ($$), Jing + Power Point ($)
 * Have your students have a content notebook that they use in class
 * they can write down their assignments, assessment dates
 * you can stamp this notebook for a organization grade
 * One advantage to Content Delivery is to have lectures assigned on the web
 * students can access this any time
 * students can go at their own pace, stop presentation to take notes
 * covers their absences
 * go to Torrence's web site for an example of his online lectures (he uses Camtasia and a tablet to write formulas on the screen [|Mesa High School]

3. Document Distribution Document distribution can be all online to save your department copier money! Options for document distribution:
 * Word ($$$), PDF ($$$), PowerPoint ($$$), GoogleDocs ($)
 * Advantages in online document distribution:
 * Students can do their work in a different color
 * Documents can use Cornell-Style Note Taking[|Cornell Layout] [|Cornell Note Format]
 * Instructions should always be on the document and at the top
 * Excell documents and Power Points can be sent home as homework

4. Document Collection Getting documents returned to you via the web is another important part of a paperless classroom Options for document collection:
 * Google ($)
 * Things to consider when collecting documents:
 * Establish a separate Google account for your classes
 * Use Google to create folders (see settings)
 * Advantages with online document collection:
 * you can give and send feedback via email
 * you can search by student name
 * see the vacation responder option
 * you can choose a different background/color for each class

5. Assessments Assessments can be online as well Options for assessments
 * Classmarker.com ($$)
 * $25/ year (there is a free option but you don't get the analysis)
 * has stats you can access
 * allows you to break down and analyze your classes, students, and test questions
 * Advantages to online testing
 * you can import color pictures, maps, graphs, and post videos
 * tests can be retaken
 * test questions are randomized
 * tests can (and should) have time limits
 * immediate feedback is provided to the student/ parent/ teacher
 * Disadvantage to online testing
 * you will have to clear out data if the power fails

6. Dos and Don'ts for your paperless classroom Dos
 * If you have to share computers with students use a 3-1 student/computer ratio
 * Be flexible-no technology will be perfect and there will be growing pains for the teacher/student/parent
 * Use a composition notebook that students bring to class
 * students will need to keep track of their log-in data
 * have this in 3 places (phone/ home/ notebook)
 * Expect some to resist the idea of a paperless classroom
 * Keep work time tight to keep students on track
 * Spend the first days of school to go over the technology that you will use in your classroom (this is a time saver later!)

Don'ts
 * If you have to share computers-more than 4 students/ computer is a way for students to drift off
 * Get swallowed up in the tech research
 * Have timeless limits on assignments or assessments
 * Let parents talk you out of a paperless classroom