- Is there really value left in print worksheets?
- What are the benefits of print worksheets?
- What are the benefits of digital worksheets?
- Which format best prepares our students for the future?
Print vs Digital Worksheets
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Last year my classroom went 1:1 with Chromebooks. I instantly began researching the possibilities available for a 1:1 classroom. Beyond the Web 2.0 availability, I turned my attention to online worksheets. I found a wealth of possibilities from digital interactive notebooks to the utilization of Google Suite. In my excitement I switched almost entirely to digital worksheets. However, as the year progressed, I began to realize the value of having students write things out as well. It made me wonder about what a good ratio would be for digital vs. print worksheets.
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Great question! I struggle with finding the best ratio as well. As for the benefits of digital-I love that I can access student work anywhere without lugging stacks of papers. Digital work also gives students more immediate feedback. On the other hand I have had students delete digital work before we finalized our project.
ReplyDeleteWhen discussing student work with parents, I feel having representation from both formats is valuable. Having tangible work to share with parents along with digital examples shows parents the balance of instructional practices within the classroom.
It is true that some parents struggle looking at digital work and understanding their student's strengths vs being able to see it on paper. I hadn't thought about that. I find myself doing more practice stuff on paper, then final assessments or projects being digital. I do agree that no lugging stacks of paper home is so nice!
DeleteGreat questions! I also have gone almost entirely digital in my classroom! Yes, I believe that there is value in print worksheets, but I'm not sure the value outweighs the negatives. I like having an inherent organization system when assignments are digital, and I can always print things out for discussion or display and then not worry about losing work when I no longer want to display it. Digital work is easy to find, difficult to lose, easy to collaborate on, easier to grade, and can be accessed from anywhere. My school district has also begun the process of digitizing parent communications, and grades and handouts are available digitally. I can't predict which format will be best for the future, but today, rich resources are available digitally, and it is of benefit to be able to navigate digital texts with skill.
ReplyDeleteYou are right that the resources available digitally are huge now! (Thank you TeachersPayTeachers!) My school is largely digital as well and I never had a parent complaint about not seeing their student's printed work come home. There is something about manipulating things physically vs. digitally that I still think has value. I can see myself doing 80% digital and 20% paper.
DeleteFor me, I like to use print work for assignments the students will need to go back over for assessments. I have found they like to go back through those papers and highlight and annotate what they need to review in a way they have not yet grown accustomed to doing in a digital form.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point, students haven't quite learned how to go back through digital work and find answers. It could be a skill we are missing on teaching them.
DeleteAmber, while I don't have an answer to your questions, one of the things that you want to consider with discussion entries is not to ask too much of your readers. Often when you do, folks won't engaged as readily because they don't feel that they can respond to everything.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your feedback. I will remember that for future posts.
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