Learning Activity 7-B-1 Paperless Space
The idea of a Paperless Space for a class is one that involves students both accessing course materials online and submitting their learning objects online. This process can also involve online collaboration now with wikis.
Early pioneers in this idea include Marc Meyers and David Grey who began using an intranet wiki called the CU Analyzer at Columbia University. The idea was for students to have a way to include internet articles, music, videos and pictures in an online education portfolio. Students were required to submit papers online also. This did not mean the class was a strictly online experience however. Students met to have “lively discussions” about course material.
How would a paperless class change your role as a teacher?
It would change my role as sole distributor of information to facilitator of the gathering and processing of information. I am currently in this flux state of being both a traditional teacher and a facilitator. What I haven’t added is the idea of online learning portfolios (wikis) for students to keep all of their learning objects. This is especially relevant since we are moving to a block schedule next year with cross-curricular learning being a focus. I am currently creating a plan to include traditional learning techniques inside a paperless class model inspired by Will Richardson’s learning theory of connectivism.
How would paperless classes change learning?
Paperless classes change learning in a couple of immediate ways. The first is that it gets the teacher out of the lecture, quiz, test mode. Enough has been written about the issues involved in traditional learning methods like this so I don’t need to add anything. The second immediate way is that it engages students. They are required to make the learning their own and they make decisions regarding the value of their research and collaboration. When students make learning their own this is a victory for both teacher and student.
How would you measure learning in a paperless class?
I am passionate about two things that seem at odds but are not. I believe a student learns more in a collaborative environment instead of being on their own. I also believe that students must know that their contributions are important and they will only be evaluated on their own contributions. No group grades should ever be given because it punishes the productive for the sake of the non-productive. I want to honor and celebrate student’s contributions without punishing them for other’s lack of effort. I would measure learning in two ways. The first is thru traditional assessment methods tied to my objectives. The second is measuring participation and engagement with the use of rubrics. Rubrics allow me to be objective and let the students know what I expect before hand. Rubistar is a great place to create rubrics.
Would a paperless space make it easier or harder to build a learning network? Why?
A paperless space would make it easier to build a learning network. The number of learning nodes and connections increases dramatically when a student or teacher connects with others online. When a teacher or student is using and RSS reader, a blog, a wiki and IM they have powerful tools for professional growth, research, feedback and peer review.
1 Comment
I agree that a paperless classroom would help students move to making the learning their own which is one of the goals we are after as educators. It also encourages responsibility. Instead of that student coming to you for the lost papers and forgotten assignments, they now have the power and ability to fix that problem.