MS Word & Copyright in an educational environment

Growing up in a public school classroom, MS Word was an application the students learned how to use at a young age. It seemed like every assignment we completed began with a word document! At the time, it seemed repetitive, however, today I am very thankful I know how to use MS word fluently. MS Word provides a blank document that can serve many different purposes. Each week, my teachers would create a newsletter containing important information for our parents. We would take these newsletters home every Friday. Today, many teachers use templets for their newsletters, however, I really appreciate the authenticity and hard work that goes into creating your own newsletter on MS Word.

My experience with copyright and fair use of materials in an educational setting has been limited. However, I believe that all teachers should abide by the ethical laws if they choose to publish lesson plans online. One of the main problems with sharing your work online is that most of the creators are not aware of their rights. For example: if a teacher decides she would like to publish a video of one of her lessons on YouTube, she may or may not be aware that she has signed away her rights to YouTube. Which is very scary to think about! Fair use is very important. If you use someone else's work, you have to give them credit. As a teacher, to avoid any trouble, I think it is best to create your own instructional materials and more importantly stressing the importance of creating your own work to your students!

Three technology implementation issues that I believe are most prevalent in the classroom are: Copyright, Cyberbullying, and Academic Honesty.

• Copyright is defined: as  The law that gives the creators of literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, sound recordings, broadcasts, films and typographical arrangement of published editions, rights to control the ways in which their material may be used. Meaning, it is up to the publisher how they want their material to be used. 
• Cyberbullying: Many states have created Anti-Bullying Laws, Policies and Regulations. In a classroom it is especially prevalent because if a teacher is aware of any type of bullying activity, they are required by law to report it. 
• Academic dishonesty or academic misconduct is any type of cheating that occurs in relation to a formal academic exercise. It can include. Plagiarism: For example: if a student turns in a paper which is plagiarized, that student will face serious consequences that may even lead to being expelled from their school or University. 

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