Class Journal #2

I have been using Microsoft Word since late middle school or maybe early high school. That was probably around the first time that my teachers ever assigned me homework and told me I needed to bring in a typed copy of something. I've used it throughout the rest of my life to type out documents I need like essays in high school or papers or resumés or brochure flyers. I always used the provided templates though. Now that we have learned more about how to use word, I've used it to organize advertisements for work and plan out color schemes with the different shapes, grid lines, and word art. I've seen teachers use it very frequently to communicate assignments and other course material. 

We learned today that everything is copyrighted by default, which is why it is so important to cite your sources when using any material that is not your own. If I was using lesson plans from others while I am teaching, I would need to ask permission before I do that. I would need to be careful about the things I use and what sources I pull from. With the students, I would inform them on what copyright laws are and how to follow them, and protect their own work. 

Implementing new technology can cause some problems. One is the privacy of students. One thing that my school did is since there is open unsecure wifi, students could not access any prevalent social media networks while connected to the wifi. They could still use it if they wanted to through their data, but no one can access students personal social accounts through the wifi. I would implement this in my own classroom as well. With the digital divide,I could be teaching in one of those rural areas where the students might not have access to programs like MS Word and easily accessible desktop computers. I would try to arrange to have weekly trips to the computer lab, where we can have workshops on the different programs my school has to offer. Also there are other types of technology that are commonplace in libraries that we may be able to have workshops on. For example, a scanner, laminator, or a copier could be very helpful devices to know about in learning and communicating. In academic honesty, there are plenty of programs you can run your assignments through like turnitin.com which tell you if there is any plagiarism happening. I would definitely implement something like that in my classroom. Also, making sure students are spread out during tests, so there is no communication between students about test answers is also a good idea. Making them sit one seat apart if possible or spreading the desks out during test days would be a good idea.