Who knew there was so much to know? Copyright laws, internet safety, board administrative ruling, acceptable use, cyberbullying. The list could go on and on. I do have to say that I feel so much more informed that a I did a week ago.
Let's start from the beginning: the Copyright Act! The Copyright Act is something that all teachers should really know and be familiar with. As many copies and resources as we use on a regular basis, it is important that we are staying within the legal limits. A few things stood out to me as I was reviewing all the ins and outs. First, videos and DVDs can only be viewed for educational purposes related to content matter that has been taught (not for entertainment or as a reward). This doesn't seem like a big deal, because, honestly, who has time to watch a bunch of movies for entertainment during the school day? Then, I started thinking about those inside recess times on rainy days or when my students have earned a special reward at lunchtime so they get to eat in the classroom with a movie. Who knew that I could be doing something wrong? Also, consummables can NOT be copied. This doesn't seem like rocket science, but, again, I can't tell you how many times I've seen a teacher copying from a consumable (especially if a student has lost their workbook). Overall, it is important that teachers are aware of the dos and don'ts. I found a really easy to read chart that I thought would be a great print out for future use. Check it out here: Teacher Copyright Chart
I also got a chance to look at the District Board Administrative Rule. This was my first time perusing this document, and it was definitely an eye-opener. The county has already layed out quite a bit of information in regards to technology use including a rationale, safety risks, copyright, e-mail, acceptable use, prohibited use, blogs, and a list of definitions of important technology terms. I found this information to be really helpful. Some information surprise me, and some information was a good reminder. Some things that stood out were that it is prohibited to leave workstation without logging out. I often leave my computer (especially the computer connect to my SmartBoard) logged in all day and sometimes overnight. It makes sense that this could be a risk, but it isn't something that I really thought about before. I will definitely log out from now on...no matter how annoying it is to log back in! The district also made some good points about e-mail use. That includes leaving full names, school addresses, and phone numbers off all sent e-mails. Most teachers have a signature that includes their full name and job title. Some even include addresses and phone numbers. Sometimes, I forget that once an e-mail is sent, it is out there for really anyone to get a hold of so it probably isn't the smartest choice to put my personal information on an e-mail.
I found a lot of information on internet safety and cyberbullying. In our current society, both of these things are big issues. More and more children are using facebook, youtube, and instant messaging. Not to mention, that many kids have cell phones with internet access that they use constantly through out the day. Students need to be aware of the risks and consequences of making bad choices when using the internet or other technological devices. The biggest way we can spread information about internet safety and the prevention of cyberbullying is to educate our students and parents. Zero tolerance policies need to be maintained and used consistly to ensure a safe technology experience in schools.
Copyright, internet safety, and acceptable use are very important elements of technology use in the classroom. As teachers, it is our responsibility to not only educate our students about these subjects, but also commit to following these standards and rules ourselves.
Thank you for the Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines chart. I'll be printing that out to keep at school. The copyright laws were overwhelming to me too. There everything I do now, I question myself to make sure I'm not breaking any laws! Teachers have to show their students what is acceptable and what is not acceptable with copyright.
ReplyDeleteAcceptable use is given in our student handbooks and teachers handbooks. Every year we stress to students the importance of reading this section and following the directions. Most of the time, students do not pay attention to this section until they've actually broken one of the acceptable use policies. Wish there was a better way to teach our kids the importance of following directions before they actually make the mistake!
Cyberbullying is a big issue and I know most kids do not tell anyone they are being bullied. I saw a video about a student being cyberbullied through text messages. I did not think about cyberbulling in that way before.
I feel this project helped me to be even more aware of the dangers that some of our kids face and it also helped me to incorporate these discussions with my kids.
I learned a lot while doing this assignment. The movie/DVD thing hit home with me too. Thankfully I realized that as a teacher, I can usually find a way to link it to a standard in English/LA especially (i.e. compare/contrast, sequence of events, character/setting/plot, etc.) Whew. Got that one covered. :) Now the logging in and out of my work station is a little more difficult. After reading all the information, I decided I'd start doing this, until every time I tried to log off the computer would bog down and have to be totally rebooted. Ugh! I'll keep working on that one. I shared your hand-out with the teachers on my team and asked if they knew the information presented. Some did, but most didn't plan on leading the charge in the appropriate use and copyright brigade.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed researching information about these topics.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. It does not seem like such a big deal but I think it is because we don't know. Something we some simple as showing a video to students is actually violating laws. The thought is ridiculous. (So does that mean if I have a movie day at my house, I am violating laws too. lol, JK)
I think that is thoughts like these that make us say whats the big deal. POINT IS- People need to know the laws. PROBLEM IS- Many of us are not aware of the laws.
Many teachers at my school are guilty of leaving our computers on overnight. I know I do but I never really thought about the dangers of doing this. I mean, I understand they exist but I guess you just think it could never happen to me.
Teachers play a major role in teaching our students. We have the big role of helping to raise 20+ children and teaching them right from wrong as well as educate them. One of the biggest issues that it seems like people(PARENTS) forget is that, THEY ARE THE FIRST TEACHERS.
I understand parents can't keep there eyes on their children at all times but for the most part it definitely helps when the foundations a laid immediately after birth.
Likewise teachers can only do so much. Students need to made aware of what their actions can do and what consequences their actions can bring. They need to understand the rights and wrongs of the internet and life.