Discussions and Responses
These discussions required that I research different ‘hot topics’ that relate to how technology positively and negatively affects education. After I thoroughly researched each topic assigned, I provided my own report to the class about what I found and how I interpreted the information. Once I completed my commentary, I responded to three to four of my classmates’ papers (reports) to begin the class discussion. My responses to my peers’ commentary are included under my initial research assignment/post.
Unit 1: Introduction
My introduction for the class from Unit 1 is posted on the home page. These are my responses to my peers.
My Unit 1 Responses
To Madison Moore:
Hey Madison! It's cool to see we have another summer class together! I am also working to become an art teacher and I agree that teachers should have "high, achievable goals for students" so that the students are challenged which helps them feel even better about their accomplishments. I'm glad you're interested in the digital arts, I myself am not very familiar with that form of art but it is definitely an important skill to learn especially with the ever-expanding career choices. I wish you the best of luck and hope you have an awesome summer.
To David Brazil:
Nice to meet you, David! Welcome to Commerce and I hope you have a wonderful football season. I am also looking to become a history teacher, and I agree that a good teacher should work to create a positive environment for their students since it encourages productive learning. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to working with you this summer.
To Diego Perez:
Hello Diego, it's nice to meet you. It's awesome that you are going to be an English teacher! I wish you the best of luck and look forward to working with you in this class.
To Alyssa Sloan:
Nice to meet you Alyssa! It's so exciting that you are graduating soon and that you are going to be working in Special Education. I agree that one must have passion and dedication to be a great teacher, it's what keeps them motivated and helps keep the students engaged. I look forward to working with you in this class.
Unit 2: Impact of Copyright and fair use on the Classroom
This assignment is important because it aided in my comprehension of what constitutes as plagiarism in the digital world and how copyright has affected education. This assignment has also shown me the different ways to address copyright by using the laws of fair use, and I intend to properly educate my future students on the topic. Learning about copyright and fair use laws will help me protect myself and my students as we embrace education and the use of available resources together.
Tayci Wallace
Prof. Robert Wolfe
ETEC- 424 –1W
12 June 2019
The Impact of Copyright and Fair Use on Education
Copyright is defined as “a form of intellectual property protection provided by the laws of the United States.” ("What Is a Copyright?," 2019) The laws of copyright serve as a form of protection for original works which include “paintings, literary works, live performances, photographs, movies, and software.” ("What Is a Copyright?," 2019) Copyright is an integral part of our society as it establishes a form of ownership of ideas, content, and certain media and allows a form of structure in educational institutions, the business world, the art world, and so on and so forth which makes it an imperative concept to teach students in preparation for the professional world.
While copyright laws provide the claim of ownership for creators, fair use allows people to utilize these copyrighted materials for inspiration and allows individuals to incorporate them in their own creations, including presentations for educational and information sharing use. Fair use is defined as “any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and “transformative” purpose...” ("What Is Fair Use," 2017) which includes, “criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research…”("More Information on Fair Use," 2019) Fair use is also an integral part of the creating system as it allows for freedom of speech and ‘opens the door’ for new forms of original works such as research papers, news reports, comedy skits, and other forms of art, literature, and media.
As a future educator, it is imperative for me to educate my students on the boundaries between copyright and fair use, making sure my students understand that there is a big difference even though the two are closely related in nature. In life, we are surrounded by copyrighted materials which includes all of our digital media and literary material. Many copyrighted materials and media serve as major sources for inspiration and information, especially in a classroom setting. Consequently, it is important, even essential, to deter students from simply copying such materials, but instead encourage them to utilize such sources to develop their own forms of thought and create new material while giving credit to the original place of inspiration and reference. Copyright and fair use affect many aspects of life, especially in the world of education, so in order to properly prepare students, as a future educator, I would make sure to teach them the importance of giving credit to owners of copyrighted resources and how to do so using the different styles of citation.
Citations
F. (2019). "What Is a Copyright?," Retrieved June 11, 2019, from
https://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/intellectual-property/what-is-copyright.html
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Office, U. C. (2019, March). "More Information on Fair Use," Retrieved June 11, 2019, from
https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/more-info.html
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Stim, R., & Stim, R. (2017, April 11). "What Is Fair Use?," Retrieved June 11, 2019, from
https://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/fair-use/what-is-fair-use
My Unit 2 Responses
To Delaney Harp:
Great post! I was not aware of the TEACH Act of 2002, and I can totally see why that would be confusing for both teachers and students. I definitely agree that despite the fact that we have fair use, teachers should still be properly educated on the repercussions of plagiarism and emphasize the importance of citations with their students.
To David Brazil:
Interesting post. I agree that high school teachers should teach more in depth about plagiarism and the major repercussions that come with it. High school teachers should also thoroughly show the students all the different ways to implement fair use, as well as the different styles of citation students can use to avoid plagiarism. If high school teachers were to explain more in depth about consequences of plagiarism and provide more opportunities for students to practice writing assignments that require citation, it would defiantly aid in better preparing the students for college, as well in their future careers.
To Madison Moore:
Awesome post! I especially like your last paragraph where you talk about gaining inspiration from copyrighted works. With the internet, that ability to share ideas and information has become easier than ever, allowing people to be inspired and create their own works. However, along with the ease of sharing, there is also the ease of stealing, which is why copyright and fair use are so important in today's society. As future educators, especially as art teachers, we should defiantly educate our students on how to properly utilize fair use in their work so they do not simply copy other people's work. Very informative post, good job.
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Unit 3: The American with Disabilities Act, Online Instruction and “Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act"
This assignment is important because it educated me on the rights of disabled and impaired citizens as well as how technology and the future of online education can provide great opportunities for those who struggle with attending traditional school. This assignment has prepared me to be an informed educator by providing me with the tools and information I will need to properly educate and help my future students who struggle with learning differences and disabilities.
Tayci Wallace
Prof. Robert Wolfe
ETEC- 424 –01W
19 June 2019
The American with Disabilities Act and Online Instruction
America is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Its vast diversity is not limited to religion, ethnicity, and race, but also includes physical capabilities and their afflictions, dysfunctions, and impairments. According to the Dreamscape Foundation, “twenty percent of the American population lives with at least one disability.” ("Blindness Or Visual Impairment Charity," n.d.) Physical, mental, or psychological disabilities make life difficult for many members of the American population. In order to help individuals challenged by a particular disorder, there are laws in place that support their ability to function in everyday society. These laws are meant to ensure that individuals with impairments have the resources necessary in life, as well as prevent discrimination. Laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act work to provide support to people with disabilities as they join the workforce and have especially impacted education, since they guarantee schooling rights for all, no matter what kind and how severe their disability.
The ADA is defined as “a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.” ("What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?," n.d.). This law was established in 1990 and is meant to make sure people with disabilities have equal rights and opportunities in regards to “public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications.” ("What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?," n.d.). Partnered with the ADA is Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act which is defined as a law that “requires Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities… when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology.” ("IT Accessibility Laws and Policies," 2018). This means that according to Section 508, government institutions are required to provide disabled or impaired citizens equal access to information and forms of communication/technology that are accessible to those who are ‘able bodied.’ Both of these laws have been amended and updated in order to establish a solid definition of what is considered a disability, as well as compensate for the continued advancement and evolution of technology. This evolution of technology has opened new doors of opportunity for all citizens, including those with what were once considered debilitating impairments, and the biggest change has been in education.
With modern technology, educational institutions are now able to provide options regarding methods of delivery of instruction, including online instruction. This is very beneficial for students with disabilities as it provides those who may have a difficult time attending a traditional school with an alternative so they can obtain their education from the comfort of their home. The instructor of an online classroom is responsible for providing the proper lines of communication, as well as appropriate resources to students, including those with disabilities so they have what they need to succeed. Online education continues to evolve with advances in technology which makes the process of gaining an education more attainable for all students, including those with learning challenges, impairments, and disabilities.
Citations
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Foundation, D. (2019). “Why Accessibility? Retrieved June 19, 2019, from
https://dreamscapefoundation.org/why-accessibility/
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“Blindness Or Visual Impairment Charity,” (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://dreamscapefoundation.org/why-accessibility/
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“IT Accessibility Laws and Policies,” (2018, November). Retrieved from
https://www.section508.gov/manage/laws-and-policies
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“What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?,” (n.d.). Retrieved from
My Unit 3 Responses
To Nicholas Foster
Nicholas, I respect the fact that you and so many others take advantage of the availability of on-line classes to further your education while working a full-time job. On-line education opportunities not only benefit students in your situation, but it has provided a convenient way for individuals with disabilities or impairments that would otherwise not have the same opportunity. The Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act forced a once less inclusive society to be more aware and accommodating. Once individuals with what were once considered ‘debilitating’ conditions were given the opportunity to ‘get out of their homes’ because they had access to public facilities, they have been able to demonstrate that they too possess abilities that contribute positively to our society. Our differences enrich our lives.
To Christian Ward
Christian, this is an extremely informative post regarding on-line instruction and its benefits for all, including those individuals in need of accommodations. This is my fifth on-line course and the flexibility factor in my schedule is definitely one I have appreciated. Self-discipline is an absolute requirement; it is essential that a student stay ‘on top of’ each day’s expectations, otherwise things get quite stressful, of course that can be said of face-to-face classes, too. I experienced the heavier workload you mentioned, as well, so one must be careful not to overload their schedule, since it would result in an impossible workload. I appreciate your mention of the difference between accessibility vs accommodation as defined in Section 508’s guidelines and will keep this suggestion in mind when designing on-line and technology-based lessons.
To Madison Moore
The American Disability Act (ADA) protects the civil right that no individuals should suffer any form of discrimination just because of a disability or impairment, regarding access to all public information and resources. Over time, our society has demanded inclusion and this has opened up opportunities that some individuals were not afforded due to a disability or impairment. As society changes, especially technology made available to the general public, developers must keep in mind how individuals in need of specific accommodations will be able to access and use their products. An example that would fall under Section 508 as technology has evolved is the requirement that blind individuals must be provided auditory accommodations so that they are able to have access to printed information on the internet. In addition to these examples, you mentioned on-line instruction. As you stated, technology has allowed members of society to “ manage the resources more efficiently,” including students and teachers. It has made learning material and tools more accessible, as well, thus providing enriching educational opportunities for all students and teachers.
To David Brazil
David, I found your post very informative. You provided wonderful examples of instructional and learning strategies with the lesson you described, a good example where a school district did not make sure information was accessible for all students, and a great example of an accommodation for a hearing impaired student. I am afraid that I could not find specific information in your post about the American Disabilities Act and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. You alluded to Section 508 when you discussed ‘accessibility.’ Nice job! I completely agree with your statement regarding the fact that there are many different learning styles and that “A typical classroom may contain a diverse group of learners, so the educator is faced with the daunting task of planning and executing lesson plans which will provide for connecting with each student’s and their learning style.”