Baltimore school looks to go paperless in the classroom

For students at Loch Raven Technical Academy in Baltimore County, Maryland, textbooks will soon be a thing of the past as the school swaps out  paper supplies in the classroom for digital equivalents. Students' notebooks will be replaced by 1-inch touchscreens, while textbooks, homework assignments and pencils will be switched out for the internet, apps and keyboards.

A pilot program being implemented for several classrooms at the school, the paperless initiative will help students migrate to technological solutions that are more appropriate for today's fast-paced world, according to The Baltimore Sun.

"We're already heavily reliant on technology for our programs, so this seemed like a perfect marriage," Michelle Dressel, magnet coordinator for eighth grade at Loch Raven, told the news source. "Class will be 24/7, and that's how students learn today. The [classroom] hasn't really changed to reflect today's learner, and this is really taking a huge leap."

The initiative could also prove to more schools that document management and paperless solutions aren't only useful on the administrative end, but in all areas of education. Already, more teachers are using tablets and laptops for attendance, grading and other tasks traditionally done on paper. The shift to paperless for students is simply the natural progression of the trend.

Paperless initiatives will also teach students to utilize the latest technology and devices better outside of education, which better prepares them for employment and their future careers, as more businesses are utilizing these tools in the workplace. By putting familiar tools in the hands of the nation's youth, schools can improve teaching initiatives, better prepare children for their future and save on paper costs for both schools and students at the same time.

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