Let's do this again

Blog post #2

What microsoft word means to me

I had to use word for a variety of reasons - writing lengthy papers on books I hardly read, submit assignments through canvas, or answer question prompts provide by my professors. Once you get the hang of it, it's a great tool to use in the midst of education. There's always been a reason to use it. It's convenient, it's free (for students, at least, but I'm pretty sure it's so easily accessible, anyone can use it). As for my teachers, they use it to type out the syllabus for each semester, create templates for students, and it's more often than not a preferred method for submitting assignments.

That whole issue with copyright

Ah, yes. We've all had are interactions with that term. Copyright. It's like plagiarism, but worse. The legal actions involved (if you're caught) are pretty harsh, yet understandably so. It's tricky because it seems like every idea has been taken already. You have to somehow spin a concept into your own beautiful and unique design. When I think of the education system (coming from a perspective of someone who doesn't plan on becoming a teacher when I grow up), I picture it something like this: school is one big melting pot. You got all these students from different races, ethnicities, backgrounds, etc. And the teachers, if they're doing their job right, want what's best for each student. Whether that'd be copying another teacher's style, or broadcasting various videos sharing life hacks. They grab and take and find inspiration from all kinds of sources. Not maliciously, but for the sake of the next generation. With credit, I think nearly everything can be up for grabs if it'll provide some sort of benefits to those who use it. If I were to become a teacher, I'd definitely find inspiration from elsewhere, yet blend it with my own personal teaching style and groove of things. I'd create assignments that were focused on creativity and lots of thought. Even those many students want the easy way out, I'd do my best to make the assignments and tasks to complete, yet still providing the opportunity for students to learn and grow.

Laziness, also known as, "selective participation"

Decreased productivity is something we all I've faced with at one point or another. We find something else to do, scroll mindlessly through our phones, or procrastinate until the point we literally can't anymore, and we're endlessly typing nonsense onto a page and deem it worthy of being submitted for grading. Because something is better than nothing? Well, you don't learn the most efficiently that way. Trust me, I would know. If I didn't have to try, I probably wouldn't. How would I solve this? Either make the content more interesting/engaging, finding a way to make tasks interactive. Perhaps doing it in class, that way they never have homework because it was completed when they were at optimal mental capacity. Other ways to combat this? Possibly figuring out an effective incentive that'll make students want to do their work. I can't give them money, but maybe I can give them candy, or a mystery prize box to choose random objects from. They'd have to put their hand in it while blindfolded, that way they can't see what's inside. 

"... that requires money"

This phrase might probably be a dreadful one if you're a broke college student like me (side note: I like to tell people - "if it's free, it's for me!"). Lack of funding in the education system is a national problem, if not a global one. You always hear about how more money needs to be raised and directed at the schools to educate the future generation, but honestly, what is being done about that other than talking? In today's society, we're lucky if we get even that. How could I solve this? Looking at the bigger picture, it'll be tremendously difficult to do it by myself. But if we're talking about a classroom setting, I'd either use my own funds to purchase items for the classroom or create some sort of classroom store (if I'm allowed to sell things - but let's pretend that it's perfectly fine to do that) and raise money that way. I'd be inexpensive, and whatever money earned would go right back into the classroom. Buying new boxes of crayons to replace the broken, stubby ones. Getting new books to read since all the old ones have already been looked at. If all else fails, there are fundraisers or field trips to raise a sufficient amount of money to keep things going. You may not be able to save the whole world, but you can do that of a child. And I think that's just as fulfilling.