I use a system that works extremely well for me and my school. It allows f=
or students to print what they needs, but it makes each student think about=
what he really needs.
Every student gets one free page a day. After the free page each day,=
each page costs the student 5 cents. Here is the best part: a student who=
isn't going to use her free page, can give it away to a student who needs =
it. In addition, anything a student types in his or her own words is free.=
(I figure they aren't going to type more than they have to.)=20
I know that printing costs much more than 5 cents a page, and I make s=
ure my students know it too. But I call the 5 cents a "governor." They un=
derstand perfectly that the library isn't making money off printing.=20
I also make it very clear when I'm introducing printing and its costs,=
that I am not the printer policewoman. I didn't go to college all those y=
ears to chase students for nickels. If I have to chase someone down to col=
lect his or her payment, he or she will not print again as long as I can re=
member the face. I tell the students to chase me down and pay up. They see=
m to understand this perfectly.
With the "free page" provision, a student can get what he needs any da=
y. He just has to have enough friends or classmates. By rounding up the o=
ther free pages in the class, the student has to think about what he must p=
rint.=20=20
Of course the teacher and I have already met, and the teacher knows sh=
e can give away her free page too. (All her pages are free, but the kids do=
n't have to be told that.) My student aides on duty every period understan=
d they have a free page they can give away too. They enjoy being generous =
when a student needs a page.=20=20
I've been doing this system for 5 years, and I've noticed a lot of goo=
d things as a result. Students feel comfortable using the copy machine or =
printing what they need or want because they know they have a free page a d=
ay. Students round up other students when they need to print several pages=
and they don't have change. Students learn about "print preview," and the=
y think to ask me before they pound on the print icon again and again, beca=
use they know they'll pay for those extra copies.=20=20
I used to have kids sneaking around, trying to get stuff out of the pri=
nter without me noticing. But that doesn't happen any more. I think it is =
in large part because they appreciate their free page a day, and they under=
stand that 5 cents is a token charge--a token of their responsible printing=
.=20
=20=20=20=20=20
----- Original Message -----
From: Michelle Cowell <cowellm@WAVERLY-SHELLROCK.K12.IA.US>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Student printing cost and limit
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2004 14:46:00 -0500
>=20
> I found a lot of questions about this in the archives but no answers.
>=20
> We are looking for a way to curtail excessive student printing. My =3D
> principle would like to charge the students per page after they hit a =3D
> certain number of pages. Does anyone do anything like this? If so, =3D
> what do you consider to be an acceptable number of pages per week? What =
=3D
> do you charge per page over that number?
>=20
> I will post a hit
> thanks
> Michelle Cowell
> Media Specialist
> Waverly Shell Rock High School
> Waverly, IA
> cowellm@waverly-shellrock.k12.ia.us
>=20
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>=20
>=20
Donna Cook, Nacogdoches, Texas :
Teacher Librarian Central High;
District Library Coordinator, Central ISD;
donnacook@lycos.com
936-853-9345 (work)
936-569-2426 (home)
"Books are the holes in the fences of life"--Peg Kehret
--=20
_______________________________________________
Find what you are looking for with the Lycos Yellow Pages
http://r.lycos.com/r/yp_emailfooter/http://yellowpages.lycos.com/default.as=
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