Blog Journal #3

     Copyright is the way we protect our own work from being copied without credit.  Without this it would be difficult or impossible to create something of our own that we would actually receive credit for. Copyright allows our own work to be used only by us and those we authorize for it to be used by. Fair use is when things can be used without direct permission from the original creator, but this is determined on a case by case basis. I will deal with these concepts by creating my own work when possible and if i need to borrow from another teacher, I know that there are websites teachers use to post their worksheets and assignments for public use. I will keep in mind that if an assignment does not explicitly say it is for public use, I will need to be sure I am not be violating copyright by using it.

    One technology implementation issue listed is academic dishonesty. We have come a long way as far as technology goes and this includes new ways to spot academic dishonesty. As a teacher I would make sure my students are well aware of the systems in place, so they know they won't be able to get away with it or they will be risking their grade. I would implement these systems as many teachers have so far by having the students work go through the plagiarism software before it comes to me for grading. I will also make sure my students know I am always available to help them with assignments and they should always come to me before it gets to that point. Another issue I will deal with is decreased productivity since students are on laptops at some points during the day and may get off task. I would walk around and monitor screens when the laptops are in use.  I will also make sure that even if it is an individual assignment I am still being engaged with the students and checking in on them to keep them on task and make sure they aren't getting distracted.

    As I worked on the newsletter design assignment, I learned a lot about the tools I could use to make a paper much more interesting and visually appealing. Before completing this assignment I probably wouldn't have thought to use Canva in that way. I would have used one program or another, Canva or Word and done the newsletter entirely on that program. This assignment taught me how to use multiple programs cohesively with one end goal in mind. In the future to improve my newsletter i could make better use of the WordArt feature.  I did use it in my newsletter but only once so it didn't really match anything else. The things I learned can definitely be used as a teacher in the classroom not only for creating and sending home newsletters but also creating any worksheet or assignment at all.

Blog Journal #2

I have used Microsoft words many times as a student in middle and high school. In middle school I wasn't too familiar with the program but found it very easy to get used to and I appreciated its simplicity. In high school classwork was a lot more technology based, and MS work was my go-to program. I have now been using it for several years and it is the only thing I use to take notes and work on assignments. While I haven't used every feature it has to offer, I do like the program and it is my preference.

The standard I found most meaningful was 2.5 Designer. The designer category sets the standard for personalizing independent learning opportunities for a variety of students. I find this the most meaningful because it talks about using technology to our advantage in accommodating to students needs. I think it is very important to remember to meet students where they are instead of assuming they know pre-requisite information. With the technology and resources available to us today, we have no excuse to overlook students' level of understanding. We can also create authentic work that fits the lesson being taught perfectly. Using technology, we can make otherwise boring paper assignments fun and engaging in order to keep students attention.

I do agree with the term "digital native" for todays youth for the most part. I think that the younger generations who grew up with technology all around them are instinctively better equipped to use it. Looking around today, it is safe to assume that the majority of kids as young as 3 and up have used their parents' phone at one time or another whether it be to watch a YouTube video or play a children's game. Technology has changed the way people think because so much information is readily available to us at all times and we can know the answer to our question with a few clicks of a keyboard. I think todays generation is more open minded for those reasons. I have noticed that some teachers and students have pretty big gaps in learning styles and it has made me think about how different lessons could have been made more interactive and interesting if it was presented in a different way than the teacher went with it. I'm sure my future students will know how to use technology much better than I will but keeping this in mind I will make sure I do what I can to get on their level to ensure they have an enjoyable education experience.

School Bus by Markus Kniebes is licensed under CC0

Blog Post #1: introduction

     My name is Sarah and I am currently in my second semester at FSU.  I obtained my AA degree while I was in high school and I am now working pursuing my next degree. I originally chose to major in psychology but have since switched to elementary education. At the beginning of January when winter break ended, I began my first job substituting at the local schools in Leon county and I have loved it. 

    I have had some experience with technology in an education experience. Before graduating high school last year I was a part of my schools press staff. We used many of the adobe software programs including indesign, photoshop, bridge, illustrator, and Lightroom. As school has continued to become more and more dependent on technology I have also had lots of experience with word, Microsoft office, Canvas, and powerpoint. Since picking up substituting jobs I have used a portal with a few apps such as frontline.

    A learning resource I regularly use is Canvas for this class and others. I also used canvas in high school to complete classwork and homework assignments. Other resources I use are zoom and recorded lectures for virtual classes and textbooks for various homework's. I use the application, Frontline to pick up substituting jobs which are on a portal for Leon County employees.