A paperless classroom is neither new nor revolutionary, and the same goes for 1:1 classrooms. However this is the first year I have had the opportunity to implement both into my teaching. The students are using Chromebooks for devices and all work is done using GAFE.
The first two months have passed and the students are enjoying the paperless idea and like the fact that they do not have to bring a bag or binder full of supplies to class. I never realized how many materials students generally carry around and how heavy the textbooks can be. I stopped using my textbook years ago and will never go back. When I told my class they would not need a textbook for class this year it was like Christmas morning on the faces of my students.
My students are creators now, more than they ever were in the past and the time I spend in front of them speaking has decreased dramatically. They are seeking out knowledge and building projects based on curriculum that teaches them more than I ever could. While I still believe in consumption as a way to learn information I have realized that there is a delicate balance between consumption and creation and I was too heavy on consumption as a teacher before I started this year.
The number one favorite tool/app of my students so far this year is Kahoot. They love the game and my classroom quickly breaks into the most competitive environment you can imagine. Whether they are playing as teams or individuals they are engaged. I have used Kahoot for review games and formative assessments to see what students remember from yesterday or last week. My next step will be to have them create their own.
More reflections to come.
Terry Hoganson
Terry Hoganson 
Teaching students how to learn using technology is essential and I appreciate how well they’re being taught this. Something I’m wondering: if classrooms are paperless where do students develop and maintain the ability to write legibly by hand? I’m currently in a clinical placement as a psychiatric nursing student in Calgary and legible handwriting is a required skill. It’s like most workplaces where a lot of communication is done electronically, in that legible handwriting is even more important because colleagues are likely to be less familiar with each others’ style.
Thank-you for sharing your thoughts on this.
Regards,
Carmen
Competition focused on the content is a great way to engage students. I also like that you have the goal to move to the highest level of Blooms taxonomy…create!