Thing #8 - Creative Commons

Thing #8 - Copyright

  I created my quiz in Survey Monkey.  Following is a copy of the quiz I gave along with the answers and staff responses.  23 of my peers took the quiz, and as you can see, the majority had a good handle on the copyright laws, with the exception of only a few questions.  However, although the majority had a good handle, there were still quite a few people that struggled with various questions.  A lot of people were emailing me for the correct answers after they took the test as they felt they really didn't understand the copyright laws and wanted to make sure they were abiding by them.  After I closed the test, I emailed them all the correct answers.

                   

                   

             1.  Is it a copyright infringement to make a local copy of another person's image file so you can include it on your own web page?  
   

2.      Is it a copyright infringement to link to an image on another person's web site?   No 

Providing a link to copyrighted materials is not the same as copying the work itself.

                

3.     If you do not profit from a copyright infringement, can you be sued for damages?  Yes

Copyright infringement can occur whether or not the user profits from the copying.

4.      Copyright ownership analysis starts with this principle: The ______________ is the owner.   Author 

The creator of the work is the copyright holder until or unless he or she waives or transfers that right to someone else.

5.      Which of the following is NOT a copyright infringement?  A teacher making a photocopy of a single cartoon as part of a student worksheet which is then copied 25 times and distributed to a class 

This use falls under the Fair Use Doctrine.

6.      You have written a story to read aloud to your class. At what point is it covered by copyright law?   When you write the story down on paper. 

By writing the story down on paper, you have captured your original creative expression in a fixed medium, and thus established a copyright on the work.

7.     Ms. Smith's students are big fans of the Star Trek television series. In order to excite them about a writing exercise, she encourages them to write stories based on Star Trek characters. Which of the following rights of the creators of Star Trek are violated by the writing of these stories?   The right to prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work. 

Creation of derivative works, such as stories based on characters in books or movies, is a violation of copyright law.

8.      Mr. Jones has a computer program at home that he thinks the students in his class will benefit from. He brings in the program and installs it on all three computers in his classroom. Because the program is for use by students and has met the spontaneity test, he concludes that this is legal under the Fair Use doctrine. Is it?  No 

The Fair Use doctrine does not apply to computer software.

9.      Which of the following works is in the public domain?  U.S. Senate proceedings from 1998 

Government documents are not protected by copyright

10.  Central to the concept of copyright is the idea that you own and have control over anything that you create.  True 

Any original, creative expression that you create (and fix into a permanent medium) is covered by copyright, giving you control over your work.

Things #1-7/Capstone Reflection

A)
  The technology applications explored so far have been beneficial for both myself and my students.  The more hands on, and the more variety that can be offered students, the better they are apt to learn.  I don't believe technology in itself, it s the only answer, rather a piece of the puzzle that will give all students the opportunity to learn in a different way.  I have incorporated technology in my Daily Choice during math.  Students have a variety of activities they choose from that to reinforce a particular skill.  I am fortunate enough to have 3 computers in my room that students can get on during one of their choices and explore the skill in a different way.
  As for myself, I have already learned so many new ways to enhance my teaching.  Blogs will allow student feedback in a constructive, positive way.  Skype and other social networks will allow students to communicate with authors, museums, other students, etc.  The value of the many, many websites with lesson plans will be a great resource.  I love Thinkfinity and how there are so many lessons that not only give me great teaching ideas, but most of them incorporate technology with the lessons.

B)
  Even though we are only 1/3 of the way through this class, my mind is blown away by the vast amount of information and resources available to educators today.  The teaching and learning strategies based on Marzano, all can be addressed by the technology applications we have been learning about.  A main point of Marzano is that students need to be challenged in a variety of ways and have time to explore and take ownership of their learning.  In the "Identifying Similarities and Differences" category, Marzano recommends for classroom practice:

• give students a model for the process
• use familiar content to teach students the steps
• give students graphic organizers
• guide students as needed

  Some of the types of technology integrations suggested are:  Power Point, Venn diagrams, Kidspiration, smartboard, excel, as well as many others.   The list could go on and on for each subject in our classrooms, including homework.  Instead of the traditional paper and pencil activities, students need to be challenged to use technological resources that are available to help them learn in a variety of ways.


C)
   The "Thing" I am choosing to do for a lesson with my class is Buzzword.                 
Third grade students, according to GLCE    3 – H3.0.10 ,   are required to create a time line to sequence early Michigan history through statehood. After studying Michigan during the time of the Voyageurs, students will collaboratively, in groups of 4, use Buzzword Presentations to create a time line of Michigan from beginning to the time of the Voyageurs. They will continue to use this tool to add to the time line through Michigan's statehood.  By using Buzzword, students will be adding to, taking away, and enhancing the time line as a group in a Power Point.
      

Thing #7 - Website

Web Presence

I chose to create a web site for my third grade class.

http://thirdgradehappenings.weebly.com/

I team with another teacher and thought this would be a great tool for many reasons.

• Parents will be able to have easy access to what is happening in the class. 
• Students and parents will be able to download assignments or check on projects for due dates or "how to's." 
• I take lots of pictures throughout the year but never have enough room on my newsletter to display them. The web site will be a great place for this. 
• Calendar of events will be easily accessible for parents and colleagues. 

Years ago I did not think having a classroom web site was worth the trouble because most of our parents did not have internet.  Today, every one of  my students and families have access, so this will be a great parent/teacher/student communication too.

Thing #6 - Cyber Bullying

Cyber Bullying and I-Safe

  Two activities I will use to help parents and students understand the safety and responsibility of internet use are the following:

Core Rules of Netiquette:

  A parent/student night at our school where both are exposed to various videos and information about proper netiquette.  Below are a few resources available.

http://www.networketiquette.net/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dRoclqDJh0

http://www.education.com/reference/article/netiquette-rules-behavior-internet/


 Cyber Bullying:

  Another activity would be to present either in a parent/student night, or to the class, information on Cyber Bullying. 

http://www.digizen.org/cyberbullying/fullFilm.aspx

   Digizen has informative, believable, and credible videos and resources that would be valuable tools for informing parents and students about Cyber Bullying.

Thing #6 - Bogus Sites

Bogus sites

http://clickmonkeys.com

After reading through this web site and looking for credibility, I really couldn't find any.  At the bottom of the page it said they were a Ukranian company and not subject to US laws.  This was a red flag for me right away.  The explanation on how they perform their service was also fishy.  They have a lighthouse off shore they use for "clicking."

I could not find any other sources that reviewed, critiqued, or supported this company.  When reading the explanation for existence, the company seemed to have a legitimate  reason for their business, but the company was questionable.  I tried to google reviews or anything that would tell me more about it, but the only thing I could find was sites that told me it was a hoax.

 I could not find a date on the website.  No where did it give a copyright or update. 

There were no sources behind the text.  There was supposedly one testimonial, but that was it.

http://www.stephenswork.com/funkyshoes/goodkarma.html

Funky shoes was a site that immediately caught my attention as a bogus site.  It is totally based on the premise "Good Karma Shoes Make You a Better Person."

This site claims that they scour the world for shoes worn by good people doing good acts.  If you buy these shoes, you too will have good karma.  Although there were several testimonials in the sidebar, they were not necessarily credible.   There were no dates on the site.  The only other sites I could find about Funky shoes were the ones that claimed it as a hoax.

Thing #5 - Differentiated Learning

Differentiated Learning

  I teach 3rd grade, but I team with another teacher, so I teach only Math, Science, and Social Studies.  I use differentiated learning on a regular basis.  

Math:   I begin with whole group instruction and then students have daily choices that go with the concept being addressed at the time as well as review concepts.  Below are some of the choices students learn from:

•          Games
•          Response Wheels
•          Problem solving activities
•          Math Art
•          Paper and pencil work
•          Manipulatives
•          Internet activities

Science: 

•          Begin with overview and whole group instruction
•          Hands-on activities
•          Journaling and recording activity
•          Partner/Table collaboration
•          Whole group sharing 

Diverse Learning

  The application I felt would be the most beneficial in my classroom would be audio text.  To be able to transfer the written word into digital audio format for struggling readers would be a wonderful tool.  Students would be able to follow along, yet be read to.  They can stop when necessary, re-read, highlight, and go at a pace that is best for them.


UDL

  Nettrekker is a wonderful program that allows you to find lesson plans within the Michigan GLCE's.  It was very easy to use and allowed me to find a a multitude of lessons within various subject areas.  When the lessons are brought up, the readability level was displayed on the side so that it was easy to distinguish the appropriateness for the student or class you are looking for.
  This is a valuable tool for educators.  Ease of use and quick find lessons in appropriate levels makes it a nice application.

Text-To-Audio Conversion

  This program has the potential of being a great tool for students who struggle with reading. Experts note that audio books can help young or struggling readers, but just following words are not enough. With audio books children learn to listen; they will listen as the story is read and visualize the story. The use of imagination is paramount in creating independent readers. This is not an ability that you can teach your child in the traditional manner. That is one of the primary benefits of audio books for children. They will have no choice but to use their imagination and they will see how enjoyable it is.
  However, unless there are better programs out there than vozMe, I am not overly impressed.  Both the female and male voices are monotone and hard to understand.

Thing #4 - Infinity/Lesson #2

   Graphing

 In this lesson found at http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L534  students create bar graphs and find the range and mode of a set of data..  The lesson suggests they find out how many of each vowel are in the classroom names, but anything would work.  Once collected, they put the data in an online graph.  They will need to have a title for their graph and  name their x and y axis.  There are buttons to choose whether they want it a bar, line, pie, or pictograph.  After all information is put in the template, the graph of their choice is created.

  This lesson is perfect for many grade levels.  Children start graphing in kindergarten and never stop.  I will use the application periodically throughout the year.

Thing #4 - Thinkfinity/Lesson #1

Introduction to Geometry:

  Students read the poem "Shapes" from A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein, and create their own illustration of the poem. In this lesson found at http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L202   students explore geometric figures and positional words.

Shapes

A square was sitting quietly

Outside his rectangular shack

When a triangle came down — keerplunk! —

And struck him in the back.

“I must go to the hospital,”

Cried the wounded square,

So a passing rolling circle

Picked him up and took him there.

After reading the poem, students, will be given geometric shapes (square, rectangle, triangle, and circle).  They will arrange their shapes according to what they hear in the poem and draw a picture to demonstrate it.  After all pictures are finished, show them what the author thought it would look like and compare.

  I will use this lesson soon as an introduction to geometry.  Although they should already know their shapes, it will be a good refresher for them as well as a nice listening skill exercise.

Thing #3 - Skype

Skype Reflection

  Teaching third graders poses a challenge sometimes with technology.  Many cannot type well, so it takes them quite awhile to communicate this way.  However, there some ways I think Skype would be beneficial for them.

·         Meet the Author:  There are many authors that will chat with students via Skype.  Students will have the capabilities to ask questions in real time.

·         Virtual Field Trips:  Once again, there are many organizations that work with schools to provide virtual field trips that go with the curriculum being taught

·         Student Collaboration:  Collaborate with other classes on projects

·         Teacher Collaboration:  Teachers collaborate and gather ideas from other teachers around the world

Thing #2 - Optional Buzzword Activity

  I was new to both Buzzword and Google docs.  After playing around with both, I liked the ease of use with Buzzword much better than Google docs.  Although at first glance Google docs seems very similar to Word, I felt the tool bars were not as easy to use as Buzzword.  I liked how easy it is to find my documents in Google docs; I am not so confident with Buzzword.  I have been about to find them so far, but it takes me awhile.
  Both however are valuable programs that will enhance my productivity.

Thing #2 - Google Docs Colleague Edit

  The following spreadsheet was created rather blandly.  When it came back edited, color, and centering had been added as well as the test scores being changed to percentages.

  As far as how it will help me more productive, I can see this being a wonderful collaboration and time saving tool with other educators for reasons I stated in an earlier blog. However, I have had the occasion since starting this class to use it for private purposes as well.  A friend created an address list for upcoming wedding.  They sent the list to me through Google docs and I revised and edited it.  Just a way that it is not only useful in education, but in our everyday life.