Copyright, Fair Use, and Online Safety

Plagiarism was always a serious issue when I was in grade school with teachers making huge ordeals about not stealing information from the internet. I learned at an early age that using sites such as easybib and son of citation machine would be necessary. Copyright appeared to be a rather complicated task, made even harder with citing our information. What I didn't know was that copyright is a very difficult subject to wrap the brain around and citing sources made the issue a little easier to truly grasp. From the reading, I have begun to understand that most information on the WEB is usually copyrighted. There are certain guidelines that must be followed in order that the guidelines not be crossed. Fair use protects us as the public, enabling us to use copyrighted materials in the classroom.  I never knew that using the internet was such a complicated task, I just simply opened to google and searched with no knowledge on the hefty amount of barriers that were present. With all the copyright issues, there also exist problems with students using it. Cyber bullying has now become a common phenomena,with facebook and other social networks becoming the new grounds where bullying now occurs. In order to combat these brutal conditions that have been moved from playgrounds to facebook, an educator must address the appropriate netiquette to their students. I have learned that I as a future teacher, needs to show kids how to become productive and honest members of society when using online sources. This will help prevent online bullying and create an online environment in which cyber safety comes to existence.

My feelings after reading the materials about copyright, fair use, cyber safety, netiquette, and online bullying have left me in a state of befuddlement. I am confused, and sort of angry all at the same time. The guidelines of copyright appear to make using the WEB to incorporate into my future classroom near impossible. I can recall the days when I was in 3rd grade,getting to watch Hoosiers as a reward to filling up our jar with marbles for good behavior. Also I remember in the 7th grade when my class got to watch Pearl Harbor as part of our lecture time. I don't understand how these examples would be against the fair use; copyright almost makes education in this technology saavy generation a lost cause. How can we possibly teach our kids if copyright stands in our way? If we manage to get past all the copyright laws, then I do feel it is important to encourage our students to understand how to be safe while online and to have the appropriate netiquette to surpass online bullying.

Additional information:

"Copyright for Educators" at http://www.copyrighteducation.org/ hosted by KOCE-TV. You can find series youtube video clips at YouTube.com

Below is a video clip of "Copyright for Educators (Multimedia Guidelines)"

ETEC 424: Mapping Activity and searching the web

Before the Mapping activity, when searching the web was necessary, Google was my best friend. Last week I was assigned the task to go search how candle's work for science. The first thing I did was open my homepage, which is google, and typed "How do candle's work". I didn't have much luck at first and became very frustrated. I realized even though google wasn't finding the information I needed, it had to be on this popular WEB that this generation has become so heavily reliant upon. The solution I came up with was to research using different key words to make it less broad, so to get more specific. This worked and the top link is the one I decided to click. It gave me the information I needed so I deemed my search over. I tend to do this often, with little thought on where the information comes from, not knowing how credible the information even is. In my mind, the first link is the most valuable and effective just because it is listed at the top.

After going through the mapping activity I was able to understand the significance of credibility. The prior problem I had with not being able to find information could be eliminated with the guidance of altavista. I could continue googling until I found a link worthy of my search and if I was still hesitant as to whether this was legitimate information, I could go to altavista to figure out how useful this site could potentially be. The more sites that reference the link, the more likely the link are a valid source to take information from. Easywhois allows me to determine the author or publisher of the website I have chosen to draw information from. The link I clicked may have an author; however, it may not be the original author that posted the information. This could come into effect when siting my sources after writing a paper on how candle's work. If I don't give the correct author credit, then I fail to cite my information correctly. My habits must change in order to be an effective researcher using credible information. I have to quit taking a site for its word, and go use these new tools to become a true researcher. In the past, I have had to write many papers using the internet as my tool and have been rather successful. Before this activity I didn't understand that the internet could lie, or did but didn't seem to care. Now I realize the importance it holds in being an accurate writer, using the internet in its utmost effectiveness.

In conclusion, the mapping activity will make research an easier task that will boost my papers with more spice as it becomes more correct. So many times kids get caught up in going through the motions of research without truly understanding the process. The mapping activity brings an understanding that was lost before. I think it will be very valuable to teach my future students the meaning of real and valuable research that goes beyond just google, yahoo, and dogpile. We begin to form these bad habits that negate us the chance to form a sense of credibility that will be more correct than some of the links we use from google. This is necessary to ensure that even though it may be the top link, it may not be the authentic choice. The only way to find out is to incorporate the mapping activity.

ETEC 424

My name is Caitlyn Deshong and I am a hardcore sports fan, especially when it comes to baseball. I can remember when I was young tagging along with my dad to go watch my little brother play baseball. I just seemed to fall in love with it instantly and now am a diehard Texas Ranger fan, knowing every player on the roster. My favorite is Josh Hamilton of course. More importantly I am a Christian that strives to make a difference. I feel that my best ability to do that is by teaching and having some sort of impact on the lives of children. I have worked at a daycare for three years now and I want to be like my role model and boss that has shown many children who God is, touching so many lives that would not have without her guidance. I have decided to major in education and have hopes of becoming a math teacher for grades 4-8.

            With a generation that now relies so heavily on facebook, twitter, and myspace as a main source of networking; it is almost a necessity to ensure we teach these new technological sources to our children. Many businesses now use these as a way to connect to one another, therefore students can only be adequately equipped if technology is utilized to its fullest. As I have some experience observing in the classroom, I have quickly realized the new role technology fills. Smart boards, computers, and the internet are now all commodities of several school classrooms. These tools help engage students more effectively as it relates to the world around them where they have seen the I phone, I pad, macbook, and much more take the country by storm. Pencil and paper will no longer engage a student to the point of actually learning the material. The teacher must use technology as a gateway to student success and to help equip them for the future.

            By taking ETEC 424, I hope to learn how to use the technological resources available and be able to apply these skills to my future classroom. I feel it is necessary to feed off of child interest so that the learning process can be fully reached. Technology is the only way to make this goal possible. Being a part of a very technological saavy generation, I have come to learn how to use many different sources. However, I still have so much more to learn to be able to adequately guide children. I hope that this class can fill in the blank spots that I lack. Just like the video showed; children spend so many hours a week engaging in video games, television, computer, and surfing the web than ever before. It will be beneficial for child and teacher to use this to become successful contributors to society. I want to make a difference in the lives of children, and the only way I can is by drawing on their technological interests that will better prepare them for a very digital 21^st century.