Blog Post Two

Looking back on my career as a student, I can’t remember a time where I wasn’t using Microsoft Word. I began using Word as a child; I was constantly typing book reports and stories to share with my class. Sometimes, I even made my own worksheets and assignments; I’d model them off my own homework and pretend I was teaching a class. Then I started typing essays. Then research papers. Then poems and projects. Basically, I did everything on Word. In school, teachers would constantly be using Microsoft Word. Every handout I received was formatted in Word. Teachers would have lessons on how to properly use Microsoft Word. They’d show us how to format our bibliographies using Word, or how to properly structure our essays. They’d demonstrate all the neat functions Word has to offer. For instance, they’d show us the thesaurus and express how we should use it to help make our papers stronger. Or, they’d show us how to insert tables and graphs into our research papers, making them more visually engaging. From kindergarten to my senior year, Word has been a huge part of my academic life and success. My proficiency in Microsoft Word has allowed me to properly complete my assignments, while also learning skills I can use in the future. 
I wasn’t fully introduced to copyright and fair use of materials until this year. I never actually realized how often I’d use Google to find a picture and paste it in my PowerPoint. I never asked the artist if it was okay, I just took it and used it. All my teachers would pull up pictures from the internet, or even encourage us to take pictures of our textbooks (this way we didn’t have to bring them home)! I was totally unaware of intellectual property laws. Now, I understand how annoyed I would be if I was an artist whose work was constantly getting stolen. Bu, in certain situations, I don’t see the big deal. For instance, I don’t feel anyone should be punished for photocopying a textbook if they have good intentions, but I see where there could be an issue. Maybe someone would try and sell the same material from the textbook, therefore making a profit off something they didn’t create. From an educational perspective, I don’t see any issues with using someone else’s materials to learn and really respect the fair use guidelines. As a teacher, I’d try to create my own materials, but I’d probably still pull up images on Google. I’d always encourage students to create their own materials as well, but I wouldn’t punish them for using another person’s materials for the sole purpose of learning (as long as it was valuable and not an excessive amount). I did it as a student (I still do), and it’s only helped me learn more!

 One problem I’m determined to eliminate as a teacher is academic dishonesty. With the internet, students can easily find answers or similar assignments online, which they use to finish their work. All they have to do is Google a question and their whole assignment pops up. Texting and social media also makes academic dishonesty much easier; students can send around answers and share valuable information from quizzes or tests. In order to eliminate academic dishonesty in my classroom, I’d utilize the website “Turn It In,” which checks to find any similarities in student’s papers. I’d also give out zeros for plagiarized assignments and talk to the student directly (to try and get them back on track). I’d also consider requiring phones to be put away during class (unless they’re incorporated into an activity). Maybe not allowing students to have their phones out might eliminate the amount of answers being passed around. Technology’s prevalence in the classroom also can lead to decreased productivity in students. Being told to do something on the internet (that a student might not be interested in doing) may lead to them streaming television or playing games. With the internet at their fingertips, it’s easy for students to get distracted quickly. I’d be sure to give students incentives for turning in work earlier, this way those who completed the assignment in a timely manner would be rewarded. I’d also lower the grade for students who submitted their work late, and would try my best to only incorporate technology when it’s absolutely necessary (it’s hard to get distracted staring at a piece of paper)! I’d monitor the classroom when we’re using technology and require students to keep their own, personal technology away. This could eliminate distractions and encourage students to get their work done.