Key Points on Copyright in Classroom Technology Use
Copyright Basics
What is Copyright?: Copyright protects original works of authorship, such as literary, dramatic, musical, and certain other intellectual works.
Exclusive Rights: The copyright holder has exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or license their work.
Fair Use and Educational Exceptions
Fair Use Doctrine: In some cases, the use of copyrighted material without permission is allowed for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.
Educational Exceptions: Certain uses in education are considered fair use, especially if the use is transformative (adding new meaning or message) or if it’s a small portion of the work.
Creative Commons Licenses
What is Creative Commons?: Creative Commons licenses allow creators to give others permission to use their work under specific conditions.
Types of Licenses: These licenses range from allowing any type of use with attribution to allowing only non-commercial uses.
Best Practices for Using Copyrighted Material in the Classroom
Seek Permission
Request Use: When in doubt, seek permission from the copyright holder to use the material in your classroom.
Use Licensed Materials: Opt for materials that are explicitly licensed for educational use or that fall under public domain or Creative Commons licenses.
Use Public Domain and Open Resources
Public Domain: Works in the public domain are free to use without permission. These are typically older works or those released by the author.
Open Educational Resources (OER): Utilize resources that are freely available and licensed for educational use.
Attribute Properly
Give Credit: Always provide proper attribution to the original creator, even when using materials under fair use or Creative Commons licenses.
Limit Use
Small Portions: Use only the portion of the work necessary to achieve your educational objective.
Transformative Use: Ensure that your use adds new meaning, context, or expression to the original work.
Create Your Own Materials
Original Content: Whenever possible, create your own photos, videos, and other materials to avoid copyright issues.
Student Projects: Encourage students to create their own content for projects and presentations.
Educate Students
Teach Copyright: Educate students about copyright laws and the importance of respecting intellectual property.
Model Good Practices: Demonstrate proper citation and respect for copyrighted materials in your teaching.
Practical Examples
Using Photos
Use photos from public domain sources or those with a Creative Commons license.
Attribute the photo to the creator if required by the license.
Using Videos
Show videos from educational platforms that provide usage rights for classrooms.
Use short clips instead of full videos, and always attribute the source.
Using Music
Use royalty-free music or music licensed for educational use.
Attribute the music to the creator if necessary.
Resources for Copyright-Compliant Materials
Creative Commons Search: search.creativecommons.org
Public Domain Review: publicdomainreview.org
Pixabay (for free images and videos): pixabay.com
Khan Academy (for educational videos and resources): khanacademy.org
Open Educational Resources (OER) Commons: oercommons.org
By following these guidelines, teachers can use technology and media in the classroom effectively and legally, ensuring that they respect copyright laws while enhancing their teaching materials.
Copyright Basics
What is Copyright?: Copyright protects original works of authorship, such as literary, dramatic, musical, and certain other intellectual works.
Exclusive Rights: The copyright holder has exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or license their work.
Fair Use and Educational Exceptions
Fair Use Doctrine: In some cases, the use of copyrighted material without permission is allowed for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.
Educational Exceptions: Certain uses in education are considered fair use, especially if the use is transformative (adding new meaning or message) or if it’s a small portion of the work.
Creative Commons Licenses
What is Creative Commons?: Creative Commons licenses allow creators to give others permission to use their work under specific conditions.
Types of Licenses: These licenses range from allowing any type of use with attribution to allowing only non-commercial uses.
Best Practices for Using Copyrighted Material in the Classroom
Seek Permission
Request Use: When in doubt, seek permission from the copyright holder to use the material in your classroom.
Use Licensed Materials: Opt for materials that are explicitly licensed for educational use or that fall under public domain or Creative Commons licenses.
Use Public Domain and Open Resources
Public Domain: Works in the public domain are free to use without permission. These are typically older works or those released by the author.
Open Educational Resources (OER): Utilize resources that are freely available and licensed for educational use.
Attribute Properly
Give Credit: Always provide proper attribution to the original creator, even when using materials under fair use or Creative Commons licenses.
Limit Use
Small Portions: Use only the portion of the work necessary to achieve your educational objective.
Transformative Use: Ensure that your use adds new meaning, context, or expression to the original work.
Create Your Own Materials
Original Content: Whenever possible, create your own photos, videos, and other materials to avoid copyright issues.
Student Projects: Encourage students to create their own content for projects and presentations.
Educate Students
Teach Copyright: Educate students about copyright laws and the importance of respecting intellectual property.
Model Good Practices: Demonstrate proper citation and respect for copyrighted materials in your teaching.
Practical Examples
Using Photos
Use photos from public domain sources or those with a Creative Commons license.
Attribute the photo to the creator if required by the license.
Using Videos
Show videos from educational platforms that provide usage rights for classrooms.
Use short clips instead of full videos, and always attribute the source.
Using Music
Use royalty-free music or music licensed for educational use.
Attribute the music to the creator if necessary.
Resources for Copyright-Compliant Materials
Creative Commons Search: search.creativecommons.org
Public Domain Review: publicdomainreview.org
Pixabay (for free images and videos): pixabay.com
Khan Academy (for educational videos and resources): khanacademy.org
Open Educational Resources (OER) Commons: oercommons.org
By following these guidelines, teachers can use technology and media in the classroom effectively and legally, ensuring that they respect copyright laws while enhancing their teaching materials.