My reflections about the activity on Ownership: My right to copy…

The activity was extremely interesting and shed some lights on publishing our work online. I always thought that as a teacher I could “copy” under ‘fairuse’.  However I can see that I should always check if work is available in public domain, or else we should seek permission from whoever has ‘ownership’ over the copyright material. 

OER! An Ocean Of Possibilities!

The learning activity on OER was much more than just being...informative. In fact it was a deep insight in free learning resources and bridging opportunity divide. I was not convinced by the idea of free resources because I publised once and...had a terrible experience. Though I like writing, but publishing had been nightmarish! However I think that I'll be reviewing my view point, so the learning session has had a great impact on me. It's fostering a change of mindset where I'm concerned!

I dug deeper into what Desmond Tutu said about socially responsible businesses which is very interesting concept. 

Eben Moglen and Lawrence Lessig keep me pondering...'Should ideas be considered proprietary?' He is absolutely right, copyright might have curb creativity. On the other hand 'remix, reuse, and revisiting' resources open the doors of everyone contributing! It is certainly an open door to explore an ocean of possibilities.

The learning activity shed great light on copyright issues and that of copyleft which provide open access to resources. It also help to find out about the role of distributors and that of authors. Distributors have acted as if they were all poweful. Thank God for OER! 

The e-book with tweets came about as a revelation of publishing which is possible for all. 

I never thought of technology as an event which has reshaped our world to such an extent that a book was born  out of tweets.

I must say that I journeyed in a world of possibility as I went through the learning activities! Thumbs up for all contributors on this course, especially for the OER university!!!

   

REFLECTION ON LEARNING ACTIVITIES

I enjoyed reflecting on teaching as a profession or a vocation

I thank Stephen Downes for the introductory video which really set the floor for the importance of publishing educational resources for sharing our ideas. It is important for educators to know if materials used under fair use can be re-used and how to make the most of materials under creative commons without infringing laws while publishing over the net.

Digital Freedom has been very interesting, however though I agree that open source softwares are of great help to learners and to teachers who want to design educational website at no cost! (It does bridge opportunity divide!) However I would like to know more about socially responsible businesses! I can't help wonder...How are youth going to make a living out of their innovations if they only produce freewares?

Otherwise it was a very fruitful session, as it kept me thinking about issues which I believe are very important in today's world.

Regards/Mary-Joyce Arekion.  

Teaching a vocation or a profession

  This was a very interesting reflection indeed! I certainly embraced the profession out of passion, the passion to share! But the passion to share what? The passion to share my liking for literature, French and English. My passion to share my liking for Shakespeare and Moliere. However as time went by I have grown and learnt to adapt to the needs of my recipient; Furthermore as time slipped by the role of the teacher has greatly changed, and a good teacher then recognizes the need for continuous development.

        The hunger for knowledge acquisition has lead us to this course, as we recognize that we have to adapt to an environment that is constantly changing. The event of technology provides teachers with an ocean of facilities to seek resources online and publish via YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook to name but a few.  The event of technology has facilitated our lives, yet it has set the scene for us to learn new rules so that we can make the most of it. It is since we recognize the elements of a profession in teaching that we embark on a course that values ethic and the need of a code of conduct.

       The roadmap to excellence in our career is to match vocation to profession that is teaching is by far more than just a higher calling, it is much more than someone being sent to impart knowledge to young and impressive minds…From that view point, we might reject serious development programs as contributors to our success, since we may think ourselves above same. If we view teaching beyond a vocation and mission to that of an art and science, then we might agree to the fact that it also requires –standards, rigour, ethics,well-informed understanding of children and a code of conduct.

Regards/ Mary-Joyce Arekion
       
     

My short bio!

My name is Mary-Joyce Arekion. If you wonder why the blog goes by Aurelie Arekion...Well, it's because Mary-Joyce was not available as a user name, so I entered a nickname! After various desperate attempt to change Aurelie to Mary-Joyce...I just gave up!

I have been in the teaching profession for ages...Well! Twenty years to be exact. In 2009 at the Microsoft Pil Pan African Forum for educators, I discovered teaching with ICT related tools and technologies! It kind of change my perspective of teaching...I move from the status of being just a mere educator to that of being a lifelong learner. I am always eager to learn new skills and innovate.

I teach 'English/Literature In English' at 'Lycee de Beau-Bassin'. Ever since I learn about educational technologies, I try to make the best of ICT in the classroom -I try to share and spread the good news about! I act as educatonal consultant at A.K.U.O E-Tutoring Solution and try to make the most of what I grasped at the VCILT.

I am just thrilled to embark on this course, and I am eager to learn and share.    

Regards/ Mary-Joyce