Blog #2

Joe Cello here, back from a graduate music audition in Boston, here to talk about my experience with Microsoft Word. I will also address a few issues that have arisen as a result of technological advancement, like copyright, cyberbullying, and privacy.

With the exception of timed in-class writings, almost all of my other essays were typed using Microsoft Word. I took a typing class in sixth grade as well, making typing the most efficient way to write essays and complete other assignments (such as lab reports for science fair). My teachers used Word for paper handouts of things such as study guides and outlines. Some math teachers used it to display math formulas and other relevant content. As an International Baccalaureate graduate, it was essential to be proficient in Word because of the volume of written assignments.

The volume of technology use to create lessons for my future students will make it tricky but even more important to avoid copyright infringement. I will be drawing from lots of resources and creating a lot of content for my students, so I must stay up-to-date on the laws. Even if it weren't illegal, it would be unethical to use other people's original ideas and not credit them, and I would use real-life examples to help demonstrate the point to my students.

One issue that has cropped up as a result of social media and instant messaging is cyberbullying. Because it can lend anonymity, it can be difficult for the average person to track someones usage. This gives a safety blanket for bullies. I think it could be decreased drastically if use of social media and other internet services required proof of identification. It would cut down on fake accounts, and expose people. Additionally, teachers must be vigilant to monitor the signs of cyberbullying, because they are more subtle.

Privacy is another hot topic issue that has caused much debate. Facebook and YouTube have been facing pressure to censor certain content. Additionally, people have become aware of the amount of personal data mined by these platforms that is sold without our consent. I think this problem needs to be addressed promptly to protect users. In my classroom, if there is personal content requested, I would always make sure it can be anonymous so no student feels insecure.

One final issue that I've seen ruin academic records is academic dishonesty. I saw classmates in high school kicked out of their programs because they copied sources without citing them. As a teacher, I would stress the importance down the road. I have heard of people who forgot a single citation on their dissertation and had their degrees revoked. Also, I'd share with my students how cheating never benefits the cheater in the long run. I would want to make an environment where my students care about truly learning the material, not producing grades.

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