“Copyright, What's Copyright?” posted by MediaEdLab
Okay I admit it. I am guilty of using material and assuming it was either copyright free or assuming that I was in the clear because I was a teacher. I have pulled videos from YouTube, I used pictures from Google images, and the list goes on. I feel like such a hypocrite since I do not let my students plagiarize or use material that is copyrighted in their assignments, yet I do so in mine.
In the last two years I have gotten better about not blatantly stealing other peoples’ works. For instance I have all of the URL address where the pictures I use in class can be found and I create a list of all the sources (not an APA reference by any means). I thought this was ‘good enough’ since I was a teacher.
Lately, I have become more and more paranoid. I try to use all of my own pictures in class so that I don’t have anything to worry about in terms of copyright issues. This is all fine when I am posting pictures of natural things such as C4 or C3 plants, but what do I do when I need a diagram? I have contemplated creating my own diagram, but it is usually based off a textbook diagram. If I change the drawing enough it is less similar to one textbook but then more similar to another’s.
After last week’s Wimba session I really got freaked out and so I started searching for what I should be doing. I came across a Web site from Education World entitled “The Educator's Guide to Copyright and Fair Use.” This is a 5 part series about what we as educators can and cannot do legally.
After reading part one “Part 1: Copyrights and Copying Wrongs” I am so discouraged. I feel like I can’t use anything. Though my citations are good (I can’t be accused of plagiarism), I could still be accused of copyright infringement.
The second part of the series “Is Fair Use a License to Steal?” made me realize that even if something is fair use, I need to consider a few things before I use it in the classroom. I am sure you all are guilty of this – Recording a TV show/movie and then showing it in class. Did you know that we as teachers are allowed to do this but only keep the tape/dvd for 45 days!?! If you are curious about what else is considered “fair use” there is a great section for educators in this section.
The rest of the series honestly makes my head spin. I hope the week 3 Wimba session will help me sort out all of the fair use information.
Another resource for you is The Copyright Web site
Resources
“Copyright, What's Copyright?” posted by MediaEdLab on Feruary 7, 2009 to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QiO_H0-ok8
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It's a difficult subject that was meant to support creativity (as the video kind'a overstates), but it's become battle zone. It's like we need a 12-step group for former copyright abusers. Ack.
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