MAC Week 2 Reading

(Photo from Creative Commons: By Peter Skwiot Smith)

 

While reading, I was very excited to see the nine-dot puzzle. The first time I saw the puzzle was about two years ago in an undergraduate class. To this day, I remember spending the entire 2-hour class trying to figure out how to connect the dots with only four straight lines. What I vividly remember was not drawing my lines outside of the confines of the nine dots. For whatever reason, I could not bring myself to create a straight line outside of the nine dots. After I saw the answer two years ago, there was like this ‘aha’ moment and I found it very amusing that most of my classmates had the same mentality as I did. It is amazing how great our minds can be, but at the same time it almost seems like we have blinders on. Another part of the reading from It’s All Invented that caught my attention was the last area of The Practice. One of the statements was asking about assumptions. My favorite line that I love to repeat is, “Don’t assume, it will only make an ass out of you and me.” This phrase has definitely been proven true many times in my life so far. It amazes me how much making an assumption can really derail you from the truth or a bigger and better idea.

As a teacher, I know all too well about living in a world of measurement. Within the classroom alone we worry about testing of all kinds, No Child Left Behind, scores, assessments and so on. Thinking outside the box will offer more possibilities for forward and creative thinking. Take nothing for granted and live everyday to the fullest extent. Among the possibilities in life, are the phenomenal children in our world. This year in the classroom definitely made me take a step back to really appreciate children. Working with 5 and 6 year old children with Autism is definitely an eye opening experience. They have such innocence about them that you just with you could embody.

The suggestion about being a person that can make a difference definitely hit home with me. Coming from a hard working family, I am always around to help family, friends, and coworkers when needed. Really, however, I don’t see it as being a contribution – I luckily see it as something that I enjoy doing. The examples of the ripples in a pond are a wonderful analogy. The problem is, is that people think that someone else will be the trendsetter or the help that is needed. If we do not step up and realize that we are the ‘other person’ to someone else, nothing will ever get accomplished.

MAC Week 2 Blog Post - Discussion Board Responses / Replies

(photo from personal collection: parent granted permission to use)

Topic #1: Music in your personal life

Personally, I am not a person that likes silence. No matter what I am doing, whether it is driving, homework, or walking, I need to listen to music. Most of the time I download music from the iTunes or I borrow CD’s from my friends’ collections. Having worked at Best Buy, I fortunately have a lot of friends with great music collections! Recently, I became a huge fan of listening to Pandora radio on my phone. It is a great feature that has saved me from many silent walks around the school track when I have forgotten my iPod. I am currently deciding on whether to start a subscription or not to Pandora to have access to the full account features.

Topic #2: Pick one topic to respond to:

a. Do you remember the first song/artist that touched you on an emotional level, not just a catchy tune, but something that sank in under the skin?

A. While I was growing up, I would always love to listen to the Moody Blues. At 27 years old, I can probably sing every one of their songs word for word. The reason why I loved the Moody Blues is because it was the band my father loved. Whenever we would go in the car, it would either be a Moody Blues tape or Sports Radio on in the car. It was always comforting to hear them and it still brings back such happy memories of when I was younger. To this day, if the weather is hot and my dad has his car windows open, we will hear the Moody Blues blasting in his car as he pulls up the driveway. To me, that was my first experience with music on an emotional level.

If I had to pick a band or artist from my ‘generation’, it would be 3 Doors Down. The lyrics to their songs definitely hit home with me and I have been following them since I heard their first single ‘Kryptonite’ on the radio many years ago. As a faithful follower, I have seen them about 6 times in concert, most recently last month.

Both bands definitely connect with me on an emotional level. Not just the happy emotions either. I can relate their songs to just about every mood or feeling on any particular day.

MAC Week 1 Comment 2 ~ J. Timothy Krusko

 (Creative Commons: Seth Anderson @ http://search.creativecommons.org/?q=law)

J. Timothy Krusko:

Has the Internet created a Woodstock copyright event? Civil disobedience? Evolving battle of youth versus establishment? Are the illegal users of copyright material the new proletariat? Can we really trust anyone that doesn’t own a computer? See Mass Law Blog – Copyright for some enlightening legal opinions.

Copyright law, in my odd opinion, is a mind-altering drug. Experimentation, creation, and interpretation by average Internet users have caused an alarming number of lawsuits and headache inducing arguments. If your head wasn’t spinning (intentional reference to the movie The Exorcist) after this week of reading than you probably skipped some of the videos!

I have no idea what all this means, yet I find this discussion, fueled by litigation, to be fascinating. I have made volumes of family vacation videos using copyrighted music, but I never posted any of them on Facebook, YouTube, or any other social media platform. Even before entering EMDT I had an inner voice telling me that it was wrong to use another persons work. However, after viewing and reading the copyright assignment I see the strength of various issues and opinions. The blob of piracy, remix, and mashing will continue to roll because a vast portion of society is telling the world in a Bob Dylan 1960s way, “For the times they are a changin.”  

Elizabeth Granberg:

There definitely was a lot of information to be consumed during this weeks reading. However, I was very thankful that it was done through videos. The movies and video clips definitely highlighted a lot of areas that I did not even know were included with copyright, fair use or with Creative Commons. With technology and creativity, I see how piracy and infringement will continue on for quite a long time. The law does need to change to embrace the creative world (in my opinion). There also needs to be more outlets for people to be creative and use their imaginations without getting the book thrown at them. Times are definitely changing and it is how we run with it that will matter. People will continue to create music or use pictures and text illegally because it costs too much to get permission and quite frankly, they might not be granted permission. And unfortunately in the end, it all boils down to money.

MAC Week 1 Comment 1 ~ Sharon Clay

 (creative commons: Dawn Endico @ http://search.creativecommons.org/?q=books)

Sharon Clay:

MAC Week 1 Blog Post

Copyright Issues Part 1: I have never fully understood the true nature of copyright. When I moved from middle school (when research projects were introduced) through high school I can remember photocopying images, recording songs, and using logos as part of many assignments without regard to or knowledge about acknowledging the creator. I see students now making the same errors I made when I was in middle school in regards to copyright issues.  I think this video segment is perfect to use in a middle school setting because the language is simple and straightforward.

Copyright Issues Part 2: I really enjoyed A Fair (y) Use Tale!  I think this video is a perfect way to introduce the topic of Copyright to middle school students because they can all relate to the Disney theme and characters. I think this video would spark engaging classroom discussion and provide an excellent springboard for “copycat” presentation told from other perspectives.  The most interesting part for me was how much copyrighted material can be used under the Fair Use conditions. Watching the filmmakers share their apprehensions and experiences with Fair Use issues was enlightening for me. When I view documentary I can usually make an emotional connection to the presentation. That is do in large part to the images but when Byron Hurt discussed his fears about using certain images because he feared legal ramifications; even after consulting with lawyers I developed a whole new respect for filmmakers.  I think Peter Jaszi hit the nail on the head when he says that copyright is a first amendment right that we jeapradorize losing if we do not use it.  I also think this presentation would make a great opener for classroom discussion because the content is highly relevant to the population I teach.  My students are creative and resourceful so creating YouTube videos paying homage to this week’s favorite musician or athlete is no uncommon. I think this presentation makes it very clear about how to do that legally.    The Code of Best Practices for Online Video appears to be wonderful resource to help empower emerging techies!  Eyes on the Fair Use of the Prize was probably the most effective documentary I have ever viewed.  How come I did not know this! I am speechless and saddened.  The first thing that came to mind was Knowledge is Power, from the 1980’s School House Rock cartoons.

Copyright Issues Part 3: Finally, the Creative Commons segments were also helpful. I think this forum has been a meaningful way for artists share their work. It is also a great resource for people like me, who do not have the artistic ability to design original material to use in my professional and personal life. Providing valuable and free educational resources like, Creative Commons,  is an empowering tool for aspiring and established artists and students as well. 

Elizabeth Granberg: 

I absolutely remember the days of going to the library and photocopying pictures straight out of books. For projects we would copy and paste whole paragraphs into our papers and not change a single word. The videos and movie definitely did a great job at explaining the legality behind copyrighting and also opening up my eyes to a lot of things that I did not know about copyrights. The Fair(y) Use Tale was definitely a cute film. I was bugging out a little bit with some of the sounds after a while, but it definitely got the point across! Again, the videos were a great way to demonstrate how to properly use media and text, and how to do so legally. Technology is and has changed the world dramatically. I wish that these videos were around when I was learning about these things in high school. Even now I with that I knew about these videos a few years ago because they would have come in handy with my undergraduate work. Creative Commons has definitely opened up a world for many people to explore, create and imagine. With the ability to use images without having to worry about legal repercussions, you have the freedom to create and express yourself. It is a great tool that is out there for those of us that need an outlet for our creativity.

MAC Week 1 Reading

The videos have been extremely helpful with helping me truly figure out the differences between copyright, fair use, and creative commons. The movie “Good Copy / Bad Copy” definitely struck home with me because I have a lot of friends that are DJ’s, some well known and others that do it for fun. Since I was in high school, my teachers made it clear that we would get into a lot of trouble if we plagiarized. No mention (that I can remember) was ever talked about copyright. When we had projects or reports due, we knew to change to ‘wording’ around so we did not plagiarize our papers. However, we used pictures and music without giving any thought to copyrights.

It was great to watch the videos and get a real understanding about what is fair use, copyrighted, what is not covered by a copyright and for how long, etc. I was always under the impression that copyrights were for eternity. (I probably should know all of this since my good friend is an Intellectual Property and Technology Lawyer… shhhh don’t tell!)

As far as the laws are concerned, I think that since technology is expanding at rapid speeds, the laws do need to keep up with it. It seems that the laws truly are prohibiting creativity because of all the restrictions on music, art, literature, etc. It is hard to be creative when you have thoughts of a jail sentence or fine running through your mind at all times. Personally, I like using my own photos or creating my own music through GarageBand. That way I know that I am not infringing on any laws, rules, or regulations.

Since starting EMDT, I was so glad to be shown the world of Creative Commons. It has been a resource that I have used many times when I do not have my own resources for my projects. It is great because you can share and use the pictures, music, etc. for your work more readily then copyrighted works. There are some great pictures that I would love to upload to the website so that other people can enjoy it and not have to worry about breaking the law.

Overall, watching the videos has been a great way to truly teach and show me the true meaning of copyright, fair use, and creative commons. I gained so much knowledge from the videos that I easily understood. In the past I have read definitions and articles concerning these topics, but they still seemed like abstract terms. Now I know I can utilize pictures, music and text accordingly and properly.

MAC Week 1 Blog Post - Discussion Board Responses / Replies

 (Picture from my personal collection)
 

Topic #1: DIY Classroom / Presentation Solutions

Elizabeth Granberg                                                         June 5, 2011

Last year during my Student Teaching experience in a Fourth / Fifth Self Contained classroom setting, I was using a SMARTboard for one of my observations. This was the first year that the school received the boards, so everyone was still not 100% tech savvy with the boards. My lesson was a Civil War review using a quiz that I created through the Notebook software. Staying a step ahead, I printed out transparencies of each slide to use with a projector in case the SMARTboard was malfunctioning. Luckily I did have the slides because the computers were down during the time of my lesson when my supervisor was observing me. She was glad that I had the back-up plan; otherwise it would have not gone well at all.

Alicia Westbrooks:                                                          May 31, 2011

I love White Boards more than Chalk board especially when I found out I was allergic to Chalk. I could not believe it. I had to purchase non allergic chalk and keep wet wipes in my classroom. I got really creative and had the children would write on the board they loved it and i loved not getting my hands dirty.

Elizabeth Granberg                                             June 5, 2011

Since I work with the Autistic population, many of my students have sensory issues and allergies as well. We have had to come up with creative ways to allow students to use different chalk holders, etc. so they can still experience using the chalkboards and sidewalk chalk outside.

Topic #2: Tech in your Workplace

Elizabeth Granberg                                                         June 5, 2011

For the past two years I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with two different interactive whiteboards. Last year I used SMART Technology and this year I am using ENO Boards by Polyvision. They are both useful for the classroom, however we have found that the ENO Boards are not as user-friendly.

Next year I am going to a completely new environment where there is barely any technology at all. As of September I was hired as a classroom teacher for a charter school in New York City. This school only has a laptop for each teacher in the classrooms and a handful of projectors. It is definitely going to be a step back from this year. There are a few different investments that I am looking to make such as an iPad, as well as my own individual projector. Luckily I currently have two laptops, so one will probably be dedicated to my classroom to hook up to that projector. I am also looking into different grants to see what technology is available out there for my new school and classroom. 

Taylor Stoker                                                                     June 5, 2011

I teach at a very low socioeconomic school district and we receive many grants from the state. One of the biggest grants is a technology grant. Every student in our high school has a Macbook and all the teachers have Macbook Pros. Not only that, but we have clicker systems, mimio white board, two computers, and the tablet writer that allows you to walk around the room. I have not seen this much tech in other schools that I have been to.

Elizabeth Granberg                                             June 5, 2011

I will be going into a similar work environment next year. It is great to know that there is a possibility for a technology grant to receive such great items for the students. I have my homework cut out for me!

MAC Week 1 Blog Post - WIMBA 1

First and foremost, I would like to say that this WIMBA session was probably the most information-filled class to date! Luckily I had a note pad handy and jotted down a few notes that I thought were important throughout the session. What I do have to say, is that I liked having the information up-front when the class first started. We did not have to wait until week 2, 3 or 4 to find out what the projects or activities consisted of.

One important fact that I heard during the WIMBA was that if we are commenting on a blog that is a video, we should upload the code from that video and put it along with our comment. Just like we have to add in our classmates original blog along with our comments to our own blog, we have to add in their video blog if that is what they chose to do.

Another key point during the WIMBA wasto really stay on top of the due dates and do not let them expire. I was a little thrown off when I realized that the due dates were Sunday, but on the dashboard, it says things are due Monday (see above screenshot). I will make sure that I am getting everything done on time! Something to focus on up front is definitely the Lit Review then the AR website. If we get those done early, that will leave enough time for all of our other activities.

We are allowed to use our discussion board comments as our extra blog post if we need one. My extra blog posts will probably be mostly WIMBA reviews since I have a second job Tuesday, Thursday, and Fridays after I get out of school doing in-home ABA services for a boy with Autism.

A great question was asked, by Charlie I believe, about needing to keep or discard our 'extra' references if we are doing the Action Research Project. We are to include, on the Lit Review webpage, only the references that we used in our Literature Review. In our 'References' page, we include our 20+ references that we read and thought about including.

The final bit from the WIMBA session left me with a smile. Our abstract is to be approximately one sentence from each section of our Literature Review. I was smiling because it should only take about 20 - 40 minutes to complete... :-)