One of the advantages of living in New England is the many colleges and universities that serve the region. Going paperless will bring some benefits to the education process. While a child may not require the sophisticated technology of the adult student, more and more elementary and high schools are also adopting paperless systems for the benefit of the teachers, students, and of course, the planet. Here are a few reasons why you may find this to be a great option for your home.

Why go Paperless this Back-to-School Season

• Ease in Organization
  You'll never again have to ask yourself where you put that paper when you are using a computer. Files can be as large or small as you need them to be, ordered by date, subject, or any parameter of your choice. Better yet, they can be shuffled and resorted as your research grows. Best of all, every bit of your research can be easily housed in one place. There is no need to maintain a workspace jammed with a mountain of papers and books in order to get an education. 

• Ability to Share
  Collaborating with partners has never been easier. You can share files at a moment's notice, with no need to find a copy machine. Digital notes allow multiple students to comment, notating critical details. These notes can be automatically color-coded to identify the contributor. Professors can share PowerPoint presentations electronically and allow students to add notes or questions from the accompanying lecture or additional research. 

• Ease of Access
  By syncing devices, you can access the same information from your phone, laptop, desktop, or tablet, and each is updated simultaneously. Notes from a class or research in a library recorded on a laptop are instantly added to your desktop at home. If a fellow student asks you for information, you can send a quick email from your phone. 

• Simplified Entries
  Many experts agree that writing down information helps students remember it later. Thanks to tablets and smartpens, a student can have the best of both worlds. Even a terrible typist can take notes quickly and easily without losing the advantages of writing by hand while storing electronically. As an added bonus, key points can be highlighted by changing the font with the click of the mouse.

• Scanning Documents
  Unfortunately, the rest of the world may not always take advantage of paperless options. When it's necessary to transfer hard copies to your computer files, a scanner is the way to go. At your work desk, the best option will be a printer with a scanner feature. While attending class or study groups, consider using a portable scanner. Once scanned, you can toss the original and go back to your digital technology. 

• Multitasking
  Most adults going back to school have many responsibilities that can make required reading challenging. One fantastic time-saver is the audiobook. When available, it is usually less expensive than the hard copy, which helps reduce education costs and allows the student to carry on other tasks while listening to the information. Whether driving or folding clothes, the student can take care of chores and study simultaneously. After a long day sitting at a computer at work, reading a book can be a strain. Audiobooks can help ease that stress. 

• Cloud Storage
  Thanks to cloud storage, data is saved offsite, where it can be retrieved from any computer. There are several reliable options, some of which are free to users, such as Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services. The same system that allows you to collaborate with others and access your data from multiple devices will save the user from the heartbreak of losing a paper and having to start all over again. 

• Teacher's Benefits
  Schools that provide hardware such as Chromebooks to their students also benefits the teachers, making their lives easier. They can enter tests, for example, programmed for specific answers that eliminate the need for the teacher to grade them by hand. They make it easier for teachers to share handouts and assignments, eliminating the problem of lost papers. Tracking grades, tracking attendance, and communicating with parents are all faster and more efficient than ever before. Critical information won't be tucked away in a folder somewhere because a child forgot to tell a parent about it. Students and parents also have the ability to check on the student's progress and outstanding assignments. Thanks to electronic signatures, students won't miss out on field trips because they misplaced a permission slip.

As summer ends and students of all ages head back to school,  classrooms may look a little different than they did in the past. Our real estate agents will be happy to help you find a new home that provides the space you need to work and study. Contact us at the Masiello Group for additional information.