One of the things I hated most about high school was lugging around six heavy text books everywhere I went. There wasn’t always time to stop at my locker to switch materials, so my backpack was always graced with a backbreaking assortment of books, notebooks, folders and binders. After school, I’d have to lug all that stuff back home and up the stairs to my bedroom.
It’s becoming more evident that my children won’t have the same experience. Technology is swiftly making books, binders and even paper homework a thing of the past. Why waste all that paper, ink and energy when you can carry, send and save everything you need in one neat, little laptop computer? That’s my niece’s high school’s philosophy.
This year, rather than passing out textbooks, they’re making laptops available for students, already loaded with all of the books and information they’ll need for this year’s studies. Not only will this streamline providing data for, and receiving homework from the students, but it will save a ton on costs and energy for textbooks and copying costs for other materials.
Teachers will continue to hold classes as usual, but rather than students taking notes in notebooks or using paper handouts for test-taking or homework, all can be done right on their laptops. As more and more schools pick up on this cost-effective and environmentally-friendly style of data-sharing, I think the American school system will be completely revolutionized. Gone will be the days of creaky textbooks or standard school libraries — but that’s not all.
I believe that, eventually, the standard classroom setting will become obsolete. Teachers will be able to broadcast classes straight to students’ computers without the children ever having to leave their homes. Not only will this be convenient for the school systems, but it will make the need for school buses and travel costs unnecessary, which will reduce the toxic exhaust fumes emitted into the environment.
I’m not saying that this will necessarily be the best thing for students and their families, however. A tech-based education may be fantastic for budgets as well as the environment, but what will it mean for students who struggle with their studies and parents who work away from home during the day? What about children who aren’t self-starters or, unfortunately, have parents who don’t get involved in their academic lives? Will there still be classrooms for children who need a structured learning environment?
What do you think? Will technology make the classroom setting a thing of the past? Do you think eco-friendly, tech-based education will revolutionize American academics? Will it change the American home altogether? Do you think the mix of ever-progressing technology and push for environmentally-conscious living will have more parents working from home?
See also:
- Bright Idea: Save Electricity with New Lighting
- Shop Smarter: Green Budgets Save You Money
- Technology on a Camping Trip: Do or Don’t?
- Going Green has Never Looked Brighter
- Save with Fluorescent Bulbs
- Earth Day 2008 – Going Green Goes Global
- Going Green: Home Grown Style
- Self-Sufficiency: Creating Your Own Home Energy Resources
- Green Savings: Three Cheers for a Festive Environment
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