When I first started teaching, and the Internet was exploding with possibilities, I copied everything and anything in the name of EDUCATION. In other words, I stole photographs and images and intellectual property like a vandal sneaking apples and doormats off other people's doorsteps.
When the copy-right issues started being tossed around - I thought it didn't apply to me because I was a TEACHER, and it was in the best interest of my young learners if I keep using this rich material I was finding.
Then I started posting my own images on flickr and my thoughts on blogger and facebook, and I began to rethink my thievery. Something in me changed so that I wanted to be a good role-model. When I saw a photograph that I wanted to use - I asked permission first. I explained that I was wanting to use it for a bulletin board display - and I explained the context. Almost always, I heard a response within a few days, and almost always they said, "yes!" The people I contacted often had little requests such as, "please give me attribution" - or - "please DON'T use my real name" - or - "I would love to hear what the response is."
This was new and exciting and the effort was worthwhile.
Worthwhile, but not always practical. Sometimes inspiration doesn't want to wait a few days for permission.
When I discovered Creative Commons Search I was so grateful. You can seek out images/information that the creators are willing to share. There's no cost - and it's easy to use.
If I could give one word of advice to new teachers interested in exploring technology with their students, it would be to use the Creative Commons Search site. We might as well model best practices for our students right from the start. Chances are, many of the veteran teachers you are working with will thank you for it...Creative Commons Search does seem to be the Internet's best-kept secret. Spread the word!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Almost Random Thoughts on Blogging
The following quote was sent to me by my teacher/writer friend, Lara:
Whether or not I agree with that humorous comment, I must say that to me blogging is more than writing. It's sharing your thoughts, ideas, experiences and passions with the Blogosphere. (I almost said it's sharing with the world - but that's an assumption that everyone in the world has access to this technology.) It can mean getting almost-instant feedback on those thoughts from anywhere in the world - or from the fellow student who sits in the back of the room whom you've never had a chance to talk to. It is about building a community with like-minded people (usually we follow blogs about topics which interest us). How is this different than writing an interest piece in class and reading it to your friends? Perhaps there isn't a huge difference, except in blogging there is the potential to reach a wider audience - and to experience the text on a different platform. Paper or screen? It might come down to a personal preference.
"You're not a writer. Blogging isn't writing. It's graffiti with punctuation."
(from the movie 'Contagion')Whether or not I agree with that humorous comment, I must say that to me blogging is more than writing. It's sharing your thoughts, ideas, experiences and passions with the Blogosphere. (I almost said it's sharing with the world - but that's an assumption that everyone in the world has access to this technology.) It can mean getting almost-instant feedback on those thoughts from anywhere in the world - or from the fellow student who sits in the back of the room whom you've never had a chance to talk to. It is about building a community with like-minded people (usually we follow blogs about topics which interest us). How is this different than writing an interest piece in class and reading it to your friends? Perhaps there isn't a huge difference, except in blogging there is the potential to reach a wider audience - and to experience the text on a different platform. Paper or screen? It might come down to a personal preference.
Photos found on Creative Commons 1. Globe, 2. Sliced Digital Camera, 3. I ♥pod, 4. shoebox project - boxes
As students in my Language and Literacy class share their own blogs with me and their classmates - I get excited about the possibilities. I also get worried about the dark side of the Internet. I think we have a huge responsibility as educators to teach our students a safe way to interact within the World Wide Web. The best way I can think of is to experience it ourselves so that we may be better informed on how to practice safe blogging. Avoiding it in the classroom doesn't make our students safer when they leave the school zone.
As we experience new technology ourselves, and consider how it might be used in our classrooms, it is important that we don't throw the baby out with the bath water. We need to learn to use wisdom in our choices. We don't need to use technology for the sake of using technology, but use it because it might be the best method for reaching our curricular goals. The Internet is a tool, just like chalk is a tool for teaching. It's our job to know when to use the right tool at the right time with the right learner.
And that would be me on my educational soap box; ranting about the joys of blogging to anyone who will listen/view/read/consider.
We'll talk more in class.
Warm regards,
Carol N.
As students in my Language and Literacy class share their own blogs with me and their classmates - I get excited about the possibilities. I also get worried about the dark side of the Internet. I think we have a huge responsibility as educators to teach our students a safe way to interact within the World Wide Web. The best way I can think of is to experience it ourselves so that we may be better informed on how to practice safe blogging. Avoiding it in the classroom doesn't make our students safer when they leave the school zone.
As we experience new technology ourselves, and consider how it might be used in our classrooms, it is important that we don't throw the baby out with the bath water. We need to learn to use wisdom in our choices. We don't need to use technology for the sake of using technology, but use it because it might be the best method for reaching our curricular goals. The Internet is a tool, just like chalk is a tool for teaching. It's our job to know when to use the right tool at the right time with the right learner.
And that would be me on my educational soap box; ranting about the joys of blogging to anyone who will listen/view/read/consider.
We'll talk more in class.
Warm regards,
Carol N.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)