Students get 21st century learning in “paperless classroom”

By John Penney

PLAINFIELD, Connecticut - On the second floor of Plainfield Central

Middle School on Monday, eighth grade teacher James Salsich stood inside
his version of a "21st Century classroom."
Rows of students sat behind open laptops, occasionally pausing from
reading their assigned novel to type a comment into an ongoing discussion
forum. Notification alerts popped up and new folders were created as
students finished up a typical day in the language arts class.
Some say this environment is a drastic change from the past: in this class
there are no pens, paper notebooks of assignments or worksheets of graded
homework. Welcome to the "mostly paperless classroom," a learning environment Salsich uses to mimic the college
lecture halls and workplaces his students will soon find themselves in. The classroom is an upgrade from the
traditional book and paper classes of the past.
"It's all right here," said a 13-year-old student, pointing to his Chromebook. "The whole world is right in front of you."
For years, Salsich has worked to bridge a disconnect he said he saw between the classroom and the wider world
inhabited by his students. The process to achieve a true 21st Century classroom spanned two years, and thanks to a
grant that provided 30 laptops to his students, he now oversees a mostly paperless classroom. He now feels that the
laptops have helped to narrow the gap between students’ learning in school and its real-world application.
"This is the way most colleges conduct their classes," Salsich said. "Assignments, studying and grading are all done
through a student's computer. Since we've started, I've seen kids who once struggled, but have now become engaged.
They don't have to go from one way of living at home — with a computer or phone — to a school method that is 100
years old." Many students found the old method to be dull, but the paperless classroom enables students to make a
connection to the material they are studying.
Laptops are loaded with programs which enable students to view and complete daily assignments, comment on work
and get instant feedback from an instructor. Salsich says he can add videos to the assigned reading and modify the
curriculum like any good teacher would. Additionally he adds that his online classroom provides benefits beyond
convenience.
"It's better for the environment and puts the students closer in line to how they'll be tested," he said.
The standardized test taken by students in grades 3 through 8 and then again in grade 11, is given via computer. "If the
students aren't comfortable typing essays using that format, they start the test with a big disadvantage," Salsich said.
The class has a list of goals for the year, including keeping a multimedia diary, tracking cost and time savings with use
of the digital format, and ensuring students are more aligned with the "outside world's" use of digital technology.
There is no fake connection between the tools students use in school and the tools they will be expected to use once
they are out of school. To help meet those goals, Salsich said he's had to make some modifications to ensure students
without access to home computers aren't penalized.
"The assignments I give are for classroom completion," he said. "And instead of having a two-week turnaround on
grades, they — and their parents — can see right away how they're doing. There's still the normal discussions going in
the class, the give-and-take you always had. But it's a step to the 24-hour classroom, where students can leave class
and post a comment while they’re on the bus, if they choose."
For the students in class, Salsich's way of teaching gives them a "sneak peek into the future." One student said there
are no downsides of the method: "This is way better than typing something at home and then turning it in. Now, we
can see our assignments and ask specific questions."
Vocabulary. Write the part of speech in parentheses (n, v, adj, adv, prep). Then write the definitions.
1. ongoing ( ) _____________________________________________________________________
2. upgrade ( ) _____________________________________________________________________
3. span ( ) _____________________________________________________________________
4. grant ( ) _____________________________________________________________________
5. oversee ( ) _____________________________________________________________________
6. dull ( ) _____________________________________________________________________
7. feedback ( ) _____________________________________________________________________
8. turnaround ( ) _____________________________________________________________________
9. give-and-take ( ) _____________________________________________________________________
10. downside ( ) _____________________________________________________________________
11. sneak ( ) _____________________________________________________________________
12. peek ( ) _____________________________________________________________________

Choose the best vocabulary word to complete each sentence.

1. This phone is too old. I need to _______________ it.
2. After the concert, the judges gave the singer good _______________ about her performance.
3. The movie was very _______________ and many people fell asleep.
4. The peace talks between the two countries have been _______________ for the last two years.
5. As a manager, she _______________ 7 employees on her team.
6. The university received a _______________ to research animal behavior.
7. Her acting career _______________ more than 50 years.
8. The _______________ for printing online photos is quick- many companies can do it in under one hour.
9. The only _______________ to his new job is that he now has a longer commute to work.
10. There should be a lot of _______________ in a healthy relationship.

Comprehension Questions:
1. In what ways have the paperless classroom helped students? ___________________________________________
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2. What was Salsich’s main motivation for moving to a 21st Century classroom? _____________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
3. How do students get feedback from their work? _____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Think and Write.
In your opinion, what are 3 advantages of a paperless classroom? What are 3 disadvantages?
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________________________________
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