#2

I’ve used MS Word to write endless amounts of papers and writing assignments. As I came into the Creative Writing major here at FSU I have written more and more, but in general all of my assignments have used very basic features of the MS to get the job done. The assignments for this class are the most advanced use of MS Word that I’ve ever had to deal with. I’ve never seen a teacher use Word, except as a medium for assignments, or to hand out information.

               I worked as the editor for an on-campus magazine, and we used many resources to find copy-right free images. In highschool I did a research project on the holocaust, and while I didn’t worry much about copy right I was sure to cite each and every one. As a teacher I would definitely spend a day going over the intricacies of copy right, the laws surrounding it, and the consequences of breaking those laws. I’d run exercises using google search parameters to show them how to find free-to-use pictures and other sorts of media. Of course I’d show them how to utilize this media too. You have to show the world of content, and the possibilities available to them through it.

               Implementation is a mess of legal liability, social interactions, and responsibility on everyone’s part (school and students). If a child violates copy right law on school grounds is the school responsible because they are allowing the child access? Does the law pursue the child? Do they go to Juvie? Do they pay a fine or do their parents pay the fine? I think that the solution is to just instill a sense of serious responsibility and civil duty on the internet. Some loose code of morals, or a social construct, I think would work best. What about cyber bullying? If it is done outside the confines of the school does administrative staff have authority to doll out punishment? Should the responsibility of socially motivated punishment be meted out by the principal unless it happens on school premises. I think that this is a very grey field for admin – and personally I think that they should not be monitoring students’ online presence. If there is a problem with students outside or inside the school, the counselors of the school should handle that. Also how do you handle the destruction or vandalizing of school property, and enforce whatever rules you have set in place? I think it all comes back to a strict social code between students and teachers. Digital citizenship extends to the physical equipment, and that’s something teachers need to strictly enforce.