Going “Green” has become a familiar and commonly used word in the world today. Because of the ever growing demand for energy and the emphasis on waste reduction, alternative, environmentally‑friendly solutions have taken main stage against common and long‑accepted practices.

Colleges, and the new generation of eco-oriented students, are keenly aware of this challenge. Many are already implementing sustainability initiatives to reduce their environmental footprint. However, the very core of the educational institution is often overlooked: the classroom.

What we hope to provide in this area of our website is twofold—knowledge and guidance regarding a green course initiative at your school. By introducing eco‑friendly information technologies into your classroom, you can enhance learning while protecting the environment and saving resources. We begin by describing the current state of waste in the classroom, then explore how existing classroom technologies can be used to help preserve the environment, and wrap up by looking at ways to assess your initiative. We have also created and compiled an assortment of documents and links that we encourage you to use in jump‑starting your own initiative.

A true transformation is taking place that is impacting our mindset and culture: leading a more eco‑friendly life. What we ultimately hope is that our introduction of this century‑defining topic is only the beginning and serves as a starting point for greater conversation at your school.

A Rewarding Cause

The benefits resulting from a green course initiative are tremendous. Not only will you be helping save thousands of trees, but you will be saving money along the way as well. Plus, the delivery and management of your course will be more convenient and interactive than ever before.

Many of the tools described and steps provided are easy to follow and truly make a difference. We also understand that going green is a continual process, so we recommend you explore and incorporate one new platform into your classroom each term. If you are unsure if these digital platforms are available for you, we encourage you to contact the help desk at your school.

Perhaps the most rewarding element to making your classroom more environmentally‑friendly comes about when others consider you a role model and aspire to such eco‑friendly behaviors. For that reason, we hope you not only work on greening your own courses, but share the knowledge you’ve gained with others and help advance a broader green course initiative in your school. Living in a green way is not just a fad for today’s age; it is vital to our future and must become way of life for everyone.