Blog Post #2

For almost all of my years of computer use, I have used solely Microsoft Word to type any documents. It was never really talked about by my teachers but it was pretty much always expected. My dad used to hate Word and used exclusively WordPerfect instead, but my mom taught me that Word is much easier and much more compatible with our computers. Between essays, letters, outlines, and posters, I thought by now I would be an EXPERT when it comes to Word. Nope. It didn't take me long to realize that I don't really know a lot about different operations on MS Word because I had pretty much limited myself to such a small range of operations. Learning about new functions in the software has been a highlight of the class and will be an asset to me in my career.

In terms of copyright and fair use laws, my teachers have always been pretty adherent to the rules. We used public domain materials that were fair use and okay to use and never made illegal copies of anything. The only time I distinctly remember breaking the copyright laws is when my music teachers in high school would buy one copy of sheet music online and then make copies for the class, even though they only bought one copy. This technically breaks copyright laws, but they assumed they would never be caught so they did it anyway. In my classroom, I would try to give credit in all my lesson plans if I borrowed any strategies from other teachers. If it is copyrighted, I would buy the material. I would try to use fair use materials to the best of my ability while still trying to incorporate modern takes on the usually dated public domain materials.

In chapter 9, we read about the issues that some teachers and administrators have faced in the implementation of technology into classrooms. One of them was ADA compliance, meaning that any material you use in class must also be accessible to people with disabilities. To remedy this issue in my classroom, I would make sure that any and all accommodations are given to students with disabilities in order to help them succeed. Whether they need a screen reader, more time on tests, individualized attention, or just a closer seat to the board, I will know my students well enough to anticipate their needs. Another big issue is privacy. With my students, I will make sure they know the dangers of browsing without limitations. I will teach them the importance of having strong passwords, logging out of an account before stepping away from a computer, and knowing the validity of the sites that they visit. The final issue I want to discuss that is plaguing classrooms is the debate over free speech. Some argue that creating limitations for students prohibits them from exercising their right to free speech. I would remedy  this by making sure my classroom in its physicality is a safe space for people to say how they feel as long as it is not harmful or degrading to themselves or others. I will teach them the dangers of the internet as well as the benefits of it, so that they will be able to make good decisions online as individuals.