Today, many educational institutions have accepted digital learning as a powerful tool for improving educational experiences. As such, this shift has indeed made an active contribution to the reduction of paper use since the ongoing ‘green trend’ in education is becoming an increasingly relevant concern.
Schools and universities deliver teaching to their students through e-learning and paperless classrooms. It is a considerable shift in comparison to traditional educational practices since educational establishments increasingly account for their ecological footprint.
Digital Learning Shift
This shift began when the rapid development of educational technology resulted in the delivery of education in an unprecedented way. As such, institutions have started to recognize that the incorporation of digital learning resources by educational establishments might not only contribute to student engagement but also reduce the reliance on paper materials.
As Joseph and Trecy have noted, in recent years the Educause Center for Analysis and Research and the University of Maryland have adopted digital learning strategies successfully. The latter has decreased the need for paper by roughly 50 percent from the 2013/2014 to 2017/2018 academic years.
These strategies involved the incorporation of digital courses and educational technology, extensive use of e-textbooks, and other relevant resources. The forecast predicts that by 2025, similar strategies are going to be adopted by 75% of universities, which will have a profound educational impact.
Environmental Impact of Digital Learning
The reduction of paper use by educational institutions has resulted in a considerable environmental impact. The production of paper is highly resource intensive, with significant amounts of water, energy, and trees necessary. Thus, these strategies implemented by schools have not only decreased their ecological footprints but also their resource consumption in general, which contributes to the ongoing ‘green trend’.
Seven Environmental Benefits of Digital Learning
The transition to digital learning has provided the following benefits that promote the safety of the environment. Here are seven points concerning respect for the green environment:
- Forest Protection:
First, schools cut down forests to produce paper for note-taking. However, through digital learning, the need for such paper decreases. According to the World Counts, 1 ton of paper uses 24,000 gallons of water and almost 24 trees. Therefore, by supporting digital learning, schools protect the endangered forests. - Reduction of Carbon Emissions:
Secondly, the implementation of digital resources reduces carbon emissions. During paper recycling and production, manufacturers release greenhouse gases. Consequently, preventing students from using traditional resources to learn can significantly lessen the issue of global warming. - Waste Reduction:
Thirdly, classrooms generate some paper that learners discard. It is collected and directed to landfills since waste paper has no well-established market. Therefore, if all schools implement paperless classrooms, digital resources can avoid over 60 million pounds of waste paper from reaching landfills. - Energy and Water Conservation:
Fourthly, tablets allow learners to access content while offline. Therefore, teachers can provide needed learning materials in the absence of the internet. Hence, students maximize their resources without using papers, thus reducing water use by 30% and energy use by over 90%. - Waste Paper Recycling Plans:
Fifthly, the full implementation of paperless classrooms prompts the education sector to come up with well-laid waste paper recycling plans. Presumably, schools using digital resources encourage students to be responsible users since software developers design their resources to be accessed on screens. - Environmental Awareness:
Sixthly, as a community, the adoption of paperless classes enhances environmental consciousness. The launch of education programs on environmental conservation ensures that the students promote the safety measures to their children. - Encouraging Remote Learning:
Finally, the encouragement of remote learning has reduced the push for papers being highly demanded. Mostly, in the United States, 60% of schools will be providing full access programs without the need for commuting physical attendance.
Technological Innovations in Education
The innovations of educational technology have transformed digital learning convenience. Educational organizations have increased the adoption of a variety of digital tools to support a collaborative, interactive process of learning, which has created a more entertaining educational process. The following are among the strategies that characterize well the technological innovations that have been embraced:
- Interactive Learning Platforms:
Educational institutions have embraced the interactive learning platforms to engage students in active discussion and collaboration. They are convenient for learning and provide real-time feedback. - Digital Assessments:
Digital assessments have enabled assessors to evaluate students as conveniently as possible, as the assessment process is now based on digital tools, reducing paper usage. - Virtual Classrooms:
Educational institutions have shifted from physical to virtual classrooms, and today’s students are able to access the educational content just in terms of the platform’s usage. - Cloud-Based Resources:
Cloud-based resources have facilitated students’ usage of digital resources without the necessity to print out all the materials. The ownership of other technological tools that provide necessary access through cloud storage could help reduce paper usage. - Multimedia Presentations:
Teachers could continue to increase the use of different multimedia tools in their presentations. Various types of videos, images, and other interactive options would continue to make the lesson more entertaining and vivid. - Learning Management Systems (LMS):
Educational institutions have gone a step further and have introduced the necessity in the organization of the digital format of the course through LMS. They have included all the assignments, grades, and materials that were used in the course, and the students do not have to print them out. - Collaboration Tools:
Collaboration tools facilitate students’ collaboration and discussion of the project while staying in balance and at home. Students do not have to use papers as well. The list of these innovations could definitely become longer as the technological progress goes further.
Building Sustainable Practices in Education
A commitment to the eco-friendly principles has guided educational institutions to develop sustainable practices and promote education.
Future Projections for Sustainability in Education
According to the future projections, by 2027, 80% of educational institutions will have implemented sustainability programs that are designed to promote paper reduction and the development of digital approaches to learning. The following methods will contribute to this progress:
- Main Strategies for Sustainability:
Educational establishments will make sure that topics related to environmental responsibility are included in the curriculum. It is essential to educate the learners about the significance of paper reduction to promote environmentally friendly habits. - Collaborations with Technology Providers:
Schools will encourage the wider use of advanced digital tools, and it is planned that many of them will be able to establish partnerships with technology providers that offer such products. - Engaging the Local Community:
Schools will work with various community groups to ensure that all stakeholders understand the significance of paper reduction. Increasing the overall awareness of these issues will prompt more people to become actively involved in green efforts. - Incentivizing Paper Reduction:
Educational institutions may create different incentives for the faculty and students who reduce or eliminate the use of paper in their work and educational activities. - Investing in Infrastructure for Digital Learning:
Institutions will start investing in the infrastructure necessary for the advancement of digital learning, particularly redeployment for web-based learning systems. - Monitoring and Reporting Sustainability Efforts:
To illustrate their commitment to paper reduction and sustainability, schools will keep a record of their progress and report it to the stakeholders. - Advancements in Remote Learning:
The software designed for remote learning will continue its development, allowing an increasing number of learners to study without the need to use textbooks.
The Future of Paperless Education
In conclusion, it is evident that one of the significant features of the future of education is the fact that there will be a great shift towards the reduction of the use of paper. By 2027, a large number of educational institutions will adopt green programs, and digital learning systems will be a significant help in this regard. The use of technology in education will allow students and faculty to become more responsible towards the environment and form eco-friendly habits.
