Going Paperless

I work at the reference desk of a public library where about thirty different people spend time, and I started a wiki to get rid of all the little slips of paper that get stuck under the keyboard, taped (grr!) to the desk, etc. My catch is getting people to actually use it.

Love that idea to help get rid of sticky notes all over the place.

I also use a wiki page to keep track of all of my own ideas, thoughts, and brainstorms.  The last couple of years, I noticed that I would have good ideas regarding units or lessons for my courses and I would diligently write them down.  Then the paper would get thrown out, find itself in a big stack, or I would notice the notes AFTER I had already finished the lesson or unit the next year.  So now I have a wiki page for each unit I cover and I write all of my ideas and reflections in that one space.  Next year I know exactly where to look!  So as I plan each unit I will begin by reviewing my wiki page and making sure I incorporate all of my new ideas.

I think this will be a great benefit of using the wiki!

A blog is a great way to 'go paperless' but less secure than a wiki for classroom use.  RSS feeds and news readers can be accessed via widgets on your blog and you'll never have to touch another newspaper/magazine again.  Check out Google Tools for educational resources - a wealth of resources here!  Library2Play.com is a great site to check out that will introduce countless opportunities to engage and motivate your students - all in a digital environment.

I am very interested in going paperless in my classroom; however, I think it will be a process that is going to take a couple of years. This past semester I used a PB Wiki and Edmodo in one class and the students really responded to completing the tasks online. We have many environmentally conscious students at my school and they really appreciated working online rather than using paper. I am planning on using my soon -to-be premium PB Works space to organize my classes. My question, though, what do you do about the students who still do not have access to high speed internet at home? Do you make special allowances or do you have the work completed exclusively at school?

I also work at a public library. When we underwent renovations last year, we went from a huge reference desk with lots of ready reference files to two small desks and two small 2-drawer cabinets. We began wiki's for each dept  - Children's and Adult each had one.
 
It took awhile but because all that paper was going away we needed to use the wikis. It took a few months of gentle reminders and cheerleading but now all of our staff use and add to these wiki's. It is especially helpful as now we have additional service desks and don't have to walk to a cabinet across the library to get the information we need. There are several wiki's between library buildings but we're good at making sure they are all linked to each other. The wiki's have been a tremendous help - from uploading information such as the names of the trees outside to summer reading lists from the area schools.

I also have been toying with the idea of going "paperless".  I have made attempts over the years by posting documents online and making them accessible to students.  (I teach 11-12 graders)  I still have to make paper copies for students with various reasons as to why they couldn't "find" it or whatever.  Or for students who say they do not have access at home.  I'm not sure paperless is truly a viable concept yet.  Maybe for 60% of my students, but I will still have to provide paper for the other 40%.  <sigh>

I think 60% paperless is fantastic.  My goal this next year is for 50% of assignments to be turned in electronically.  Students have already gotten pretty good about things like vocabulary with different online tools.  I am going to be working on getting chapter/unit summaries online for next year. 

My second goal is to have everything I hand out in class available electronically.  Even if I am giving out paper copies, I really don't like the "I lost it can I get another" put into my court.  If it is electronic, it will make the students more responsible or at least give them fewer excuses.

I love the idea of going paperless -- A lot of times I can't find my notes until after the lesson.  Can you explain exactly how you have it set up?  One page per subject area?  per topic?  Anything you can share would be appreciated.  Thanks!  Marcy Cornish

Last year I taught 5th grade.  There is a push to go paperless as much as possible.  Our photocopy limits were strict and when we were out, there were no more.  It was hard, though.  I like the idea of this forum because it gives another very real purpose for using this technology.  The more situations created to nudge people out of their comfort zones, the better.  (Including myself, of course .)

I also work at a public library. When we underwent renovations last year, we went from a huge reference desk with lots of ready reference files to two small desks and two small 2-drawer cabinets. We began wiki's for each dept  - Children's and Adult each had one.
 
It took awhile but because all that paper was going away we needed to use the wikis. It took a few months of gentle reminders and cheerleading but now all of our staff use and add to these wiki's. It is especially helpful as now we have additional service desks and don't have to walk to a cabinet across the library to get the information we need. There are several wiki's between library buildings but we're good at making sure they are all linked to each other. The wiki's have been a tremendous help - from uploading information such as the names of the trees outside to summer reading lists from the area schools.

-olfenbuttel

You're very fortunate to have had a circumstance where people had to use the wiki because of a change in the way in which you operated. I'm finding it more difficult to get people to check the wiki regularly when there aren't other reasons to change their routines. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to get people to use the resource?