Thoughts on Wiki

Wiki is an online application that allows users to edit or add to its content. Wiki allows everyone to have a voice and share their own thoughts and feelings. Some advantages of Wiki in the classroom are it allows kids to express their creativity, it encourages them to produce their own thoughts rather than just reading what everyone else has to say, and it helps students master their topics. Wiki is also a communication tool for teachers with is an advantage in the classroom because it keeps parents informed so you don't have to send information home on paper and you can make a last minute change if needed. In particular the kindergarten class room could use Wiki to create a collaborative story. You could also assign a state project where each student had to look up things about the state with the geography component of Wiki. It can also allow the teacher to make word problems to help with math. 

Copyrights

 Copyright is an everyday issue many people especially teachers and students face. Some may ask what is copyright? Copyright, according to dictionary.com, is the legal right granted to an author, composer, a playwright, a publisher, or a distributor to exclusive publication, production, sale, or distribution of a literary musical, dramatic, or artistic work. After reading about copyright, the best thing a student/teacher can do when it comes to looking at things that you want to use that have a copyright is to ask permission. However, there is a fair use doctrine that states that it is ok to use copyrighted works for research, scholarship, and classroom instruction. However, many teachers and educators interpret that to mean that they can use copyrighted material as long as it serves an educational purpose but that is not the case. To determine if something is fair use there are four factors that you have to include. The first factor is the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes. The second factor is the nature of the copyrighted work. The third factor is the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole. The fourth factor is the effect of  the use upon the potential market for value of the copyrighted work. There are also specific guidelines for educators for example you can copy a single chapter from a book. With that being said, school districts are liable for copyright violations by the staff members. Hopefully this clears up questions about copyright.

Introduction

     Hi, I am Ella Gardiner an Early Childhood Education Major at Louisiana State University. I love working with children and in my free time I love to spend time with my family and friends. I have always wanted to be a teacher. I have multiple experiences working with children. However, my favorite is being a summer camp counselor at a sleep away camp in Tennessee. 

    This blog will highlight helpful learning tips and tricks and be used as a place for parents to see what's happening weekly in class. It is important to check this blog when you can. I will also be posting extra practice worksheets that students can access to help them succeed in the classroom.