Resources for the Holocaust Remembrance Interview

First of all, I would like to thank the people who assisted in creating this film:

• The Superduper Awesomely Cool ANDREW FLANAGAN- for helping edit the film as well as record it and star as Good Morning America's Matt Lauer!
• Lorraine Boulger- for providing her family photo album.
  
• Jason Allshouse- for contributing his valuable opinions on whether or not Hitler would have been successful in his campaign had the U.S. not intervened.
  
• Jenna Yeomelakis- for filming and editing a portion of the film, and for starring as Liesel Abendroth.
  

Pictures used in the film:

• http://www.sheilaomalley.com/archives/kristallnacht.gif
• http://thenewjew.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/kristallnacht-nytfrontpage.png?w=258&h=258
• http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s2/Time/1938/kristallnacht.jpg
• http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/images/kristallnacht.jpg
• http://www.english.illinois.edu/MAPS/holocaust/essaypics/kristallnacht.jpg
• http://www.leninimports.com/kristallnacht_2.jpg
• http://www.genocidewatch.org/aboutgenocide/kristallnacht.jpg
• http://www.moshegalili.com/images_holocaust/Kristallnacht.jpg
• http://library.thinkquest.org/12307/media/04468.jpg
• http://treyjackson.typepad.com/junction/images/antisemitism.jpg
• http://www.mitchellbard.com/images/Kristallnacht.gif
• http://gerdameyerbernstein.com/images/kristallnacht.jpg
  

My Contributions to the WebQuest wikis

I made three contributions all to the WebQuest wiki on this page. The first contribution that I made was to the process. I added "Children of the Holocaust" because the process was extremely organized and it was simple for students to understand. The directions were clear and concise. The second contribution I made on this page was to the introduction and the WebQuest was called "The Victims of the Holocaust". The introduction was captivating and intriguing because it had a picture with questions posed beneath it. The questions were open-ended and directly correlated to the purpose of the WebQuest. The final contribution I made to this page was to the evaluation and the WebQuest was called "Voices of the Holocaust". The evaluation was concise and understandable to students. Not only was there a rubric for the individual, but there was a rubric for team cooperation. The directions instructed the students to print of two copies of each, one for them and one for their teachers. This showed the students that the teacher would use the same rubric to grade them, ensuring the students that it was fair.

How to Help Someone Use a Computer

"Your primary goal is not to solve their problem. Your primary goal is to help them become one knotch more capable of solving their problem on their own. So it's okay if they take notes."

I honestly always believed that computer techs were provided for the soul purpose of fixing the problem. I have never encountered a situation where a computer tech would explain to me how I could fix a problem on my own. I would always just watch them fix the problem, say thanks, and keep going with whatever it was that I was doing. I never learned anything. Whenever someone needed my assistance in helping them fix a computer problem (which was rare), I would just do it, without explaining anything to them, so that the person would not have to worry about it. As a teacher, I should never do something for anyone if they themselves are capable of doing it. I am teaching my students nothing if I am always handing them the answers. By working for the solution, children learn more because they "uncover" the material themselves.

I learned that in my presentation, it is not necessary for me to explain absolutely everything about how to navigate a website, wiki page, etc.

Copyright and Fair Use LR

I completely disagreed with quiz number nineteen. Yearbooks are not intended to be educational or instructional, so why does it matter if the students decide to take the top ten songs and incorporate them into the dvd? Yearbooks serve the purpose of allowing the students to reflect upon their times and memories in school. Students' personalities, characteristics, likes and dislikes have been a major influence and part of their education, so they should be able to creatively depict these aspects into their reflections.

If the students ensure that the songs are properly cited at the end of the dvd, then how could it possibly be illegal or be a copyright violation? It should not matter whether or not the purpose of the yearbook dvd is analyzing certain songs from students' time eras. The top ten songs are music that played throughout their academic years. The songs bring up memories from classes, activities, clubs, team events, etc. Musical learners are apt to remember more if they listen to this music as they watch the yearbook dvd. Students will remember that one time that their crazy science teacher made them create a rap to describe the process of photosynthesis. The use of music and songs on a dvd yearbook is not intended to violate copyright laws. Using the top ten songs is just the way the students are reflecting and and remembering their experiences in school. We should never limit the ways in which students reflect, especially when it comes to such an easy way to give credit to a source, such as citing music.

However, if the question mentioned that the students were selling this dvd, then I would say that they were definitely violating copyrights and fair use. If anybody is going to be selling a dvd yearbook with music on it, then they should receive permission to put the music on it.

Copyright and Fair Use SR

• The first question in the Copyright and Fair Use quiz did not surprise me at all; students, along with teachers, have always been advised to make back-up copies of essential materials just in case a problem arises. However, I was surprised to find that once I checked the answer to the question, the statement claimed that teachers should always make the copies in the library. I wonder why back-up copies have to be made in the library... is it because the library can store the original or lost information?
  
• Question four was absolutely ridiculous in asking us whether or not public schools are allowed to copy the hardware that they cannot afford. Copying hardware, even for public schools, is illegal. Besides, money raised by schools buying new and improved technology go to the companies so that they can keep making quality products.
• I definitely intend on storing downloads of pictures and information about my subject content (this opinion is derived from question six). Every time I discover valuable information that my students could use in the classroom, I do not want to throw it away and force myself to keep re-finding the materials. If I am able to save the materials in an organized, fair, and legal way, then I will be able to effectively teach without being stressed about providing my students with required materials.
• I honestly was shocked when I read the answer to number seven because never in my imagination did I think it was possible to use copyright material without permission. Even if it is protected, there are ways that the outside world can sneak into the "protected" website. What would happen if the outside world did gain access into the website? Would the website have to shut down? Would the school/faculty get in trouble?
• I was surprised by the answer to number ten because I thought that if the teacher gave the proper credits to the sources that it would be okay for them to post it up for their faculty to see. I never thought that clip art would be illegal to post up, but I suppose I understand that it is illegal to do it with music. I am very happy I was able to see the answer after this question because now I know that I can use the material, but I cannot share it.
• Although I answered number eleven correctly, the last line of the question made me think for awhile. Of course students, and even teachers, have made fun of movies and materials... especially when they are attempting to bring humor into the classroom. However, I was nervous with the way the question worded it because it made it sound like it would be very wrong to use the reality show to make fun of a "spoiled family from California".
  
• Number fourteen made me think because what would happen if the Holocaust victim who gave the class permission to post the interview online changed his/her mind? Does it not matter because they already gave their consent? Would the other school not be able to use it in their History Day project? This seems to be a very tricky situation in which one who would do this project would have to tread lightly.
• The last and final question that surprised me was number fourteen, because I have shown a movie to a bunch of children while their parents were in an association's meeting. I had no idea that I was violating copyrights. Perhaps it is illegal because it was a showing in a public place...?