Blog #2

      I have used Microsoft Word for many years now. Every paper I have ever written has been done through Microsoft Word. It is a very easy to use, straightforward program. My teachers have used it to make their syllabuses, quizzes and tests, and when describing longer assignments with lots of details.
      In the past I have used various picture inserts in PowerPoint, Word, and other presentation assignments. Giving credit has always been a little confusing to me so sometimes I just wouldn't bother with it. In this class it is sufficient to post the URL and make it aware that I am not the photographer or artist. It is this simple for educational purposes according to fair use. Most likely in my professional career I will not have an issue with copyright laws as long as I am not making money off of it and give the source credit. I have searched Pinterest for activity ideas and in the future I will make sure that these ideas are not my own. Something I will keep in mind when assigning projects will be walking the students through how to source information. Even if the students have already learned how to cite in other classes it will still serve them to review it.
     One issue is that of acceptable use. Are the websites the students access acceptable? This is a tough issue to keep under control because it is impossible to control what is on the internet. A primary step that I would take is to make sure certain sites are not accessible on the school wifi. Social media sites will be off limits. Students may find ways around these blocks so it is important to teach them the ethics of maneuvering the interwebs.
      The Americans with Disabilities Act legally requires teachers to present material in a way that Americans with disabilities can understand. Personally I would learn what disabilities are common in my class as well as individually adapting to meet the needs of students with more severe learning disabilities. For example, if a student of mine is visually impaired I would customize the material in a way the student can understand such as braille.
      Each student has a right to privacy. If they are under 18 then the parents shares that right. In order for a teacher to share their image, work, or personal information, the guardian must give written consent. This is a minor setback and an extra hoop to jump through if I were to take photos of my students in the classroom. However, this is a necessary law to protect the student from potential threats.

Blog #1

      Teachers and students are influenced to use more technology by the changing world. Technology is a tool that all governments and corporations use to communicate with each other. That being said, the employees of these establishments need to be adept in the skills of technology. A student must know how to use email in order to communicate with teachers, and later on coworkers, employers, and business partners. In order for students to learn how to use technology it is imperative that the teacher knows as well. The teacher must be able to use email for contacting parents and responding to questions from the students. The internet is also where teachers post assignments and grades and where students look at their grades.
      In an ever changing society it is crucial for students to learn how to use technology and then learn the power that technology holds. Technology has the power to share your personality and creativity with the world. It is a vent for so much free thinking and globalization of the world. It is important to teach students how to do this efficiently and responsibly. Something I would like to work on is being a Creative Communicator. I currently only have social media for my own personal interests and close friends. It would be beneficial to have a professional account such as LinkedIn or even a blog where I can share my personal philosophies and skill set with strangers. Being an Empowered Learner is very important to me. Along with the great power of infinite knowledge the internet holds, there comes a lot of misinformation and lies. It is important to differentiate the two when searching the internet for knowledge.
      I agree with the label of "Digital Native." At the restaurant where I work I see young children sit at the table with their iPads watching videos or playing games. They have learned how the touch screen works and how to maneuver through it. I remember when I was ten years old I had a MySpace social media account. I could write posts and create a personal profile for myself. I learned small tricks from that experience. One drawback that I had due to naivety was the threat of viruses. There would be ads that popped up telling me to "shoot" the target and win a free TV. Without fail, there would be a virus on that computer. I was recently gifted an old iPad from an elderly friend of my mother. She had rarely used it because she could not understand it. We spent about an hour figuring out and resetting the password so that we could get into the device. With technology becoming more accessible, less expensive, and more necessary, I anticipate having to stay up to date with the newest developing technology trends when I am dealing with students from the next generation.

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@jam16aa
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Blog 0

      My personal experience with technology has been one quite typical of my generation. When I was 13 I received my first cell phone. It was a flip phone. I played interactive games on the computer as a child and had to do assignments for class. I am pretty proficient in Microsoft Word but have no idea how to use Excel. I also find it easy to sit down and figure out how to change settings on social media and other processes that the older generations find challenging. 

      From this class I hope to learn about Excel and become better acquainted with other technological processes. I know how to maneuver through a computer but I hope to learn minute shortcuts that people who are more tech savvy know. 

      My results showed that I am very balanced in three of the categories. The category that I am very lopsided in is the visual versus verbal learning section. I am a very visual learner. It has hurt me in the jobs I have had because I have trouble figuring out new problems. The upside is that once I have experience with an issue I will never make small mistakes and can completely understand the issue. I am a slow learner but once I know it I will not forget it. Many of the questions asked if I preferred theory to facts. I love factual evidence to back up more complex theories. A deeper level of thinking and understanding has always been something for which I have aimed.