Technology in Education Course

When I first started Technology in Education, TIE 300 my technology skills were basic. I understood and used minimum computer skills to get me through the work week. As a school director, I wanted to gain more computer skills to better my position at the school. There are things like advertising, weekly communication, support for the children and staff, and accounting that must be done every week. This this course, I have learned about new technology tools and websites I can use to make my job easier.

This quarter I have learned to use websites as a tool to assist children, parents and staff when needed. For example, I have created a Diigo account to refer to if the teachers and I need assistance with curriculum, tools for using technology with young children, and to acquire more knowledge of the early childhood field. Piktochart is an infographic design app that has helped me create more visually appealing flyers for all our different events. They have been great because they look great posted on our walls, and sent through email. They have truly made me look like I was technologically inclined. Blogger is a tool on Google that has been a substitute for my usual email style weekly updates on curriculum, reminders and school news. I believe the parents have enjoyed this new style weekly emails I have been trying through Blogger. And learning about the website, Movie Maker has been a great addition to my job and education. I can create small movies describing our week in school, which the parents really enjoy. Parents have expressed to me they love seeing their children working on activities in a new way. I used to send the pictures through email, and app or post them on the walls. Also, teachers have been encouraged and eager to take observational photos to combine in Movie Maker as an addition to their parent teacher conference. I appreciate everything I have learned in this class, because this ten-week course has greatly enhanced my technological abilities.

Copyright Law

How does Copyright Law Affect Your Use of Technology in the Classroom?

Copyright is the exclusive legal right, given to originator or assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literacy, artistic, or musical material. A major limitation if copyright is it can be for a limited time, and does not cover the underlying ideas of something. However, the copyright law protects the creator for as long as the copyright is active.

            Given the fact that educators are teaching children of the 21^st century, curriculum is often used along with the internet in many ways. For example, teachers may incorporate a website, internet games, and research in their lesson plans. The Fair Use law is the part of the U.S. copyright law which says that parts of the media cab be used without breaking any copyright laws. Special circumstances, like research, teachers are using because they are protected by Fair Use. Copy right laws affect teachers use of technology in the classroom, because they must be mindful of if they are breaking this Copyright law. Teachers have so much on with curriculum, activities, and classroom management, so it becomes very difficult to first clarify if these technology tools and sites can be used. I think the only way around these difficulties is to research the websites you plan to use prior when developing the curriculum. This is where you can search the websites that protects teachers under the Fair Use law. Educators also make sure to site the PowerPoints they create, which are research based, before presenting their lessons to the classroom. In the end teachers, will continue to use the technology in their lessons, because children are growing up in a world that heavily uses technology. It is only logical to incorporate this technology when instructing in the classroom.