#2- Word, Copy Right, PLNs

I used MS Word as a student quite frequently.  It was the primary place I wrote essays, reports, and took notes.  I was never really taught how to use Word to its full capability. Rather, I played around with it and figured out some of its cool and helpful features.  I was taught the basic fundamentals but not in depth about it.  I also sought advice from peers to learn more about Word and all that it has to offer.  My teachers utilized MS Word as well for similar reasons.  They also used it as a template for directions on an assignment and even assignments themselves.

I wasn't told much about Copyright except that it was illegal to copy direct information from text, video, media and graphics.  In school we were taught how to properly cite information and graphics taken from sources for educational purposes.  The Fair Use criteria was never fully explained to me. After reading chapter 11 and listening to the podcast I have a more complete understanding of why we are required to cite information.  The factors involved in determining Fair Use are the nature of the work, purpose, amount used, and how it affects the profit or market.  As a teacher, it will be important that the students understand not only how to cite their info but also why they are required to do so. Older students should be informed how to protect their own creative information.  As a teacher it will also be important to understand Fair Use, software piracy, and the Copyright law in order to legally share educational information to the students.

I had previously acquired knowledge on how to utilize Twitter by playing around with it but I did learn a few more things recently like hashtags and what they do.  PLNs are a great way to communicate efficiently and collaborate with others on a subject matter.  As a teacher, it is a great way to get connected and share information with both students and other colleagues.