Blog Post #2

Throughout my years as a student, I have used Microsoft Word for multiple purposes - creating Science Fair boards in elementary school, drafting poems in my high school literature classes, and typing essays in my college courses here at the Florida State University. Even now as a sophomore in college, I constantly utilize Microsoft Word to take notes during class or to create graphs for certain labs. Microsoft Word is a crucial tool used in society today and, as time goes on, it will become more and more important. I have also seen my teachers use Microsoft Word for multiple purposes, especially when making tests, quizzes, or syllabi to hand out to students at the beginning of the semester. While other applications, such as PowerPoint, Prezi, and Excel, are also utilized in the classroom, Microsoft Word plays a large role in the learning and success of both students and teachers.

As a student, my experience with copyright has been limited to writing essays and citing sources for class credit. And, to be honest, I have not always had the best luck with the plagiarism checkers that teachers provide for their classes - even if I correctly cited my sources and rephrased the information that I had previously researched, I would still have a high plagiarism percentage. As a teacher, I would work with students directly, especially those who have had similar plagiarism problems as me. I would make it clear what is expected for each assignment and would give helpful hints to avoiding high plagiarism percentages when citing sources. Understanding the copyright and fair use of materials in an educational environment is crucial to succeeding in the real world, which is why these skills should be taught and reinforced in the classroom.

As discussed on page 257 of the course textbook, issues in education technology implementation are divided into three categories: legal issues, social issues, and ethical issues. Some of the legal issues outlined in the textbook include copyright, piracy, acceptable use, and the right to privacy. Similarly, the social issues presented in the textbook include digital divide/digital bridges, cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking, and web 2.0 interaction. And, lastly, some of the ethical issues described in the textbook include the freedom of speech, academic honesty, privacy, and hacking/malware. A solution to the legal issue of copyright would be to establish firm guidelines regarding how to correctly research outside information and cite sources. Students should know how to give proper credit to information that they have researched and utilized in their own work. A solution to the social issue of cyber-bullying would be to educate students on the real issue of cyber-bullying and provide guidelines regarding how to avoid it, whether from the point of view of the bully or the one being bullied. It is the teacher's job to prevent bullying at all costs, whether it be in person or through the use of technology. And, lastly, a solution to the ethical issue of the freedom of speech would be to carefully establish a line between what is appropriate to discuss in class and what is not appropriate, despite the platform being utilized. The freedom to express one's opinion is one of the most respected rights granted by the United States Constitution, but it is often difficult to understand the limitations necessary to establish appropriate materials and guidelines for students, which is why teachers must stand together and establish an appropriate line in the educational environment.