John Silva Blog

Once again we have a module where there was little that was new. Plagiarism and cheating is something I deal with every week in my professional life. Every week my students have a writing assignment that I have to grade for content and style and review for plagiarism and I watch my students like a [...]

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Academic cheating I think is a classic example of a “cat & mouse” game. The myriad of ways students can cheat is mind-boggling. When students are in a classroom environment, it is much easier for a teacher to prevent cheating because you have eyes on the students. When it comes to e-learning however, things get [...]

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The term “fair use” is a vague legal concept under the main category of copyright law. Even the United States Copyright Office (2006) acknowledges that the difference between fair use and copyright infringement is difficult to define. Section 107 of the Copyright Act (Title 17, U.S. Code) defines fair use this way.
“the fair use of [...]

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Here is another reflection assignment for the sake of having a reflection. The task is, “Oh My!, Oh, No!, Really? Ah, Ha!, Hmm…Go to your blog and post a reaction to the material in this module. You might share something you learned in this module that surprised you, that pushed your thinking, or that forced [...]

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What do we look for to determine if a web site is accessible? One of the most common indicators of a site’s accessibility has been the “Bobby Approved” icon. In 1995, the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) created Bobby as a free online public tool to help make web sites accessible to people with [...]

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Identify and describe two promising methods of connecting to the internet in developing countries. Explain how these methods work and why they are practical solutions for developing countries. What needs to be done to get these methods in place?
One of the most interesting projects that I have seen for connecting to the Internet, and computer [...]

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This module was an overview and introduction to technology and ethics. Overall, while I think there were some very interesting discussions and perspectives, there was nothing that surprised me, that challenged my thinking, or that forced me to question an existing belief. In my professional life, I coach my school’s debate team, something I’ve done [...]

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This obviously pertains directly to me and my profession, though I am not a member of NEA. Part of why I like is that NEA has a code of ethics. After searching, I have not been able to find such a code for my union at the local, state, or national level. (Chicago Teachers Union [...]

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Where do you think your personal values fit in with the different fields of philosophical thought introduced in the second chapter? Why?
I believe my personal values fit within the realm of the deontological theory of ethics. As I was reading, I was reminded of something from my time in the Marine Corps. It was a [...]

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