Copyright Laws!

I knew that copyright is huge but I never realized how many different areas it applied and how thoroughly work is protected. Of course there are loop holes and those that don't care but if you understand the ethics, laws and reasons behind you can see how empowering the law is and why we have it! It allows people their creativity without fear of it being stolen. It was interesting reading the case studies because those are such simple and common circumstances that could easily happen to anyone. Knowing the copyright rules will keep you protected while allowing you to be creative as well. I don't think the laws are in place to limit individuals because even though things are copyrighted doesn't mean we can't use it, it just means we need to take the time to get permission and give credit to those individuals who were the creators. In the case studies we felt that some of them were very clear cut and others were in a murky gray area, so we said if you don't know for certain it doesn't hurt to make sure that what you want to use is available or to get the proper permission.

Fruits of the YETC!

I was amazed at how many resources the YETC has available. I haven't been in there since my freshman year and I think it has broadened in what is available. The open computer labs with endless amounts resources available. Video downloads such as Reading Rainbow, Magic School Bus, and Bill Nye the Science Guy. It was really surprising that many of the resources available can be down loaded on a portable hard drive and kept forever. I loved the websites he showed us. I can easily see how I will be able to incorporate those asessts into my lesson plans, and make them much more memorable and engaging for my students. I also enjoy the welcoming atmosphere Nathan creates. He is open to question and loves to help and that is obvious in his passion for education and helping future teachers.

Using UEN!

I believe that UEN will be a a great layer to add to my teaching foundation. There are so many excellent resources available. Sample lesson plans will be great for ideas and a quick fix. The lesson plan creator will help me in making quality lesson plans where I don't leave any thing out. Sometime you have knowledge in your head that someone else may not have so the lesson plan may not be useful to them, but the lesson plan creator is complete in the information it asks for. Having a link into eMedia, Pioneer Online Library, and Wimba Room Management will add another dimension to my classroom as well as the resources and knowledge that I can offer my students. The students will be able to receive a variety of examples and learning techniques so that the information hits base to students of all learning styles, visual, audio, hands on. It will also be nice to have the core standards and objectives so accessible.

Blogs in Education!

I think that blogging is a great way to help children learn to use technology and improve their writing! If each student had a private blog that only the student, the teacher, and their parent could access they could keep a journal as they improve their typing skills and computer usage skills. Also with student blogs at the end of the year as a gift with funding help from parents you can print off the entire blog and they bind it into a book. I think this would be a fun keepsake for them to have and one that would keep better than the little journals normally given. I just thought of another pro to blogging journals. If you as the teacher want to read over them you don't have to worry about taking their journals home, having them get lost or ruined. You can just look at their posts where ever you are that has internet. Also I think blogging is a great way to keep parents updated on class activities that have taken place and what's coming up. Getting the parents involved with their students will be beneficial for the classroom as well as students individually. It's a simple and eco-friendly way to communicate with parents and get input. Simple give each parent the address and all the same password to login with and it would be easy-peasy!!