The Future Has Arrived and It’s Looking Green
Technology and helping the environment can sometimes sound like complete opposites, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. As we propel ourselves into the future, technology is helping pave the way for a greener tomorrow. As a teacher or a parent, there is a lot we can do to help turn schools and classrooms into green, eco-friendly environments.
The first step is making the switch from paper to digital. We will all save on printer ink and save a lot of trees along the way. Instead of printing out their projects or assignments, have students send them electronically. It’s quick for students and it’ll be easier for teachers to keep track of who’s submitted their work. So not only are students helping the environment, but they’ll start to develop greener attitudes and behaviours they’ll hang onto for the future.
Remember those agendas we all kept losing as kids? Those required a lot of paper, and there’s lots of free and easy-to-use resources for students to keep tabs on their schedules, like Google Calendar. If you’re looking for ways to cut down on notebooks, Evernote and Wunderlist are a great way for students to generate digital to-do lists and stay on top of their work. As a bonus for switching from paper to digital, we also predict a decline in students claiming that their “dog ate their homework.”
Students aren’t the only ones who can help. A great way to teach students to be green is to actually teach green. Instead of handing out lessons on paper, a PowerPoint presentation is a great way to join the digital revolution. While teachers present lessons, their students can hang onto their every word as they transfer the knowledge from the fingertips to their screens. Teachers can even curb their paper-waste by choosing to email important information to parents instead of sending a letter home. Notes, progress reports, and school announcements may seem like small paper use, but by cutting it out, we’ll make a big difference in the future.
What has your school done to help our environment? Tell us by entering the 2017 Superpower your School Contest by January 31, 2017 and you could win $25,000 worth of technology for your school. ENTER HERE