This week, we are going to be meeting for the first time in Collaborate.  In addition to learning about each other, we are going to learn about wordclouds (via Collaborate and in videos). While educators have been using WordClouds for a long time, increasingly you can see them in use in the commercial world, in advertisements, training and news.  They look nice - but are also very easy to generate and can be used in a variety of ways in education.

We will also look briefly at QR codes and Class Dojo during the Collaborate meeting.  Finally, you are going to be developing a presentation on CopyRight that you can post to your wiki and make available to other teachers and students.  Please review the materials before coming to class on Tuesday - and as you go through the materials, try to imagine how you could use them in your classroom.

iNacol Standards Addressed
B1 Knows and understands the use of an array of grade-appropriate online tools for communication, productivity, collaboration, analysis, presentation, research, and content delivery.

• Is able to select and use a variety of online tools for communication, productivity, collaboration, analysis, presentation, research, and online content delivery as appropriate to the content area and student needs.

B2 Knows and understands the use of emerging technologies in a variety of mediums for teaching and learning, based on student needs.

• Is able to effectively use and incorporate subject-specific and developmentally appropriate technologies, tools, and resources.

B5 Knows and understands the need to continuously update their knowledge and skills for using the evolving technology tools that support online learning.

• Is able to identify and explore new tools and test their applicability to their content areas and students.

• Is able to use effective communication skills with students as relates to K/U D1.

• Is able to establish standards for student behavior that are designed to ensure academic integrity and appropriate use of the Internet and online written communication; teach students that copyright laws are created for a reason.

• Is able to model and comply with intellectual property policies and fair use standards and reinforce their use with students.

• Is able to provide resources for students related to intellectual property and plagiarism.

Please read the articles and view the video before class on Tuesday.

• Week 2 Materials - this page
• QR Codes - what is all the fuss about?  Please view video below:

• Skim the article about QR codes:
• http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2012/09/ways-use-qr-codes-education 
• What's in a word? Skim this article on WordClouds:
• http://teachery.net/using-tag-clouds-in-the-classroom/ 
• http://www.techlearning.com/default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=364
• http://teachery.net/using-tag-clouds-in-the-classroom/ 
• Other videos and reading are included in the Due this Week section below.

The actions you need to complete this week as well as directions for each activity follow.

TO DO:

1)  Attend Introductory Meeting in Collaborate (or view archives)

Prepare to introduce yourself in Collaborate. We are looking for the following: Who you are, what you do, what program you are in, how far along are you in the program, when you expect to graduate and anything else you may want to share. Remember to share your 5 words that describe you as a teacher. Please be brief as we have many students in the class and not much time.  We will be making a class wordcloud with all of your words. 

2)  Review Videos, Sign up for Class Dojo, Reflect: How could YOU use it?

Your codes for registering in Class Dojo will be sent to you in a separate email after Collaborate.  What is Class Dojo, you ask?  Well, it is not new - but it is still effective.  View the cute video below about how one class uses Class Dojo to improve class behavior.

We will be using Class Dojo for Attendance this semester.  As you are viewing it as a student, please consider this as a way to moderate behavior in your classroom. Similar to badges that are so popular for students today, you can use Class Dojo for communicating good behavior for the student, for the class and for the parents. 

Erin Klein shares how she uses Class Dojo for improved class behavior on various activities:

If interested in implementing Class Dojo with your students, you may want to visit their YouTube station for ideas and tutorials: http://www.youtube.com/user/classdojo/videos After reviewing the materials and videos on Class Dojo, add a brief comment to your Weekly Reflection.

3)  Create Copyright Presentation and Post to Wiki

This is a very important assignment, because you will be coming back to it over and over throughout the course. As such, this ongoing assignment has two purposes:

1. First, you need to learn about copyright law - in creating this presentation, you will be researching copyright law.
2. Through studying the textbook for the course, They Snooze, You Lose, you will be refining your presentation and your presentation skills using the information and suggestions from the textbook.

Just the word Copyright is enough to raise the blood pressure of most teachers. With rise of the Internet - especially all powerful search engines such as Google - teachers are often left wondering what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to using videos, images, photographs, text and more. As the well-versed MTT and technology leader, you will be consulted frequently about copyright questions.  Often befuddling, complicated, complex - that is Copyright law. So complex, in fact, that a debate has been raging on who owns the copyright of a monkey who takes a selfie.  You read that right - take a look at this issue on the Washington Post at http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/08/06/if-a-monkey-takes-a-selfie-in-the-forest-who-owns-the-copyright-no-one-says-wikimedia/ 

The photo to the right is the selfie in question, photo taken by David J. Slater's camera.  The article itself gives you a good idea of how very complicated copyright has become and how it has to change as technology changes.  Thus, your job is going to be an attempt at making copyright law understandable to the average teacher and student who will be using the Internet to access information.

For an excellent one stop source on Copyright law, I suggest the following site: https://www.copyright.com/Services/copyrightoncampus/intro/index.html  Since this site is geared toward educational institutions, it will be very helpful in untangling misconceptions about copyright and education.

There are literally millions of sites about copyright out there.  You may use the site referenced above and also conduct research for more information about copyright.

Once you have a good handle on copyright laws, develop a PowerPoint presentation on Copyright law to present to the teachers at your campus (or district). For now, make the presentation 7-10 slides.

The video from that site is quite good and may be downloaded to share with your teachers.  Please download this movie as a wmv file. Embed this video at the end of your PowerPoint presentation on copyright. Please note: If you like the video and plan to share it in your wiki, then please use the link rather than including the entire video in your wiki. Please upload the PowerPoint presentation to your wiki and post the presentation on your course wiki page for Week 2.

If you are not familiar with how to create a PowerPoint Presentation, the Electric Teacher site has very good tutorials on the basics of PowerPoint: http://www.electricteacher.com/tutorial3.htm 

Do you have to create a PowerPoint presentation or can you use another presentation software?  Yes - in this case, I am very specific in your software choice because one major component of the MTT certification test is creating a PowerPoint presentation.  So, you need to be familiar with PowerPoint.  While it may not be the best presentation software, it is probably the most common.  If you do not have PowerPoint (Office), then you may purchase it very inexpensively as a student.  Information can be found here: http://helpdesk.utb.edu/Knowledgebase/Software%20Sales.aspx 

Can you use a Mac for this assignment?  Yes, you can use Office on the Mac. HOWEVER, while it should be identical to what you get on Windows, using the Mac version is very different as far as features, links, etc.  So, if you are going to be taking the MTT test, you are going to have to find a Windows based computer to practice PowerPoint.  This is something that you can discuss with your trainer when you begin test preparation for the ETS administered exam.  You can purchase Office for Mac at http://helpdesk.utb.edu/Knowledgebase/Software%20Sales.aspx 

Should you have any additional questions, please let me know during the Collaborate session or via email.  The rubric for the PowerPoint can be found below: