POST #4: Copyright

Yes, copyright laws and regulations can be intimidating.  However, this module was straightforward and made what is a law that must be considered and understood by those in the education profession easy to understand and navigate.  I would typically just go to Google and search the web for supplementary materials, but after going through this module, I realize that many of the sources provided by the AEA are not only an improvement over what Google was often turning up but also have specific easy copyright rules that are easy to understand.  If there is a question about copyright, the teacher's guide to copyright on the AEA digital resources page has specific reminders for each resource.  This is super helpful and easy to locate, which makes me feel much more comfortable using these resources in my classroom.  So, keeping the Fair Use portion of the copyright law in mind and the specific rules for each resource, I would certainly make it a priority to use the resources provided by the AEA before other resources, especially when considering digital resources.

I feel like I knew some of the "basics" of copyright prior to this class, but this module helped me understand that copyright is less restrictive for teachers than I thought and some of the reasons why these rules are in place. Copyright certainly makes using the AEA online resources an easier choice compared to anything on the internet. I've always tried my best to follow the rules to the best of my ability, but I admit it can be tough when time is short and you need a resource on short notice. This is just another reason to look through AEA resources first before branching out into a google search for activities, videos, etc.

After going through the copyright module, I feel like I have a far better understanding of copyrights in general. Initially, as a student and educator, I didn't understand why we couldn't make many copies of certain documents (specifically poems, chapters, and plays), usually resorting to having classroom sets. It's really interesting now understanding why!
I feel like now I will use the document camera far more often, as well as projecting things from my computer onto the smartboard more. I think that renting the groups of books from the library is far more necessary now as well. It also makes me consider buying certain DVDs to use in classroom, and makes me wonder, with the new age of Netflix, Hulu, etc.--- how is that now effecting copyrights? When I am in classrooms, I feel like many teachers use Amazon Prime video, hulu, etc. in their lessons.
 

I found it very interesting to know how much freedom you actually do have in the classroom. I teach PreK so there isn’t a lot of homework, but there are family activities that I ask them to do. It’s very nice to know that I can post anything I want in the classroom and basically use anything within reason. I had no idea that things are automatically copyrighted, I was thinking that you needed to like apply or prove like a patent. It is great to know that you cannot post student work outside of the classroom without student permission like in a school paper or online. I don’t think that I have ever had trouble with this issue at all but now I am looking at it differently as I am not currently in the classroom.

I do enjoy roaming the internet for resources to use in my lessons but copyright law has always been on the back of my mind while looking for new materials to introduce to my students. I was never completely sure of what resources I could and could not share with my students. After going through the module, I feel much better about how I have managed the resources I have used in my classroom from previous school years. Copyright law is not as cut and dry as other laws within the world of education. Teachers have a little more leeway when it comes to sharing materials that they did not create on their own. That is really nice to know and teachers just need to be careful and understand what they can and cannot share with their students. The copyright module was very informative and presented a lot of new information that will be very beneficial to me going forward. It is hands down the module I learned the most from and I am very happy that it was a part of this course.

To be honest, I did not know much about copyright.  As a matter of fact, after this module, I learned that I was committing some copyright crimes when I was first teaching!  I am guilty of making copies of pages out of books as well as copying music onto my own CDs.  I will no longer do that because now I understand that the ones who create the music or materials need to be recognized and credited.  Now learning about the AEA online resources, and knowing they are legal and reliable, I won't have to worry about copyright infringement.  I also learned that no matter what type of research your students are doing, AEA online resources should be one of the first they go to, not just because there is are so many different resources and sites, but because you know they are safe and you have permission to use them.  

I definitely thought copyright was something to fear throughout my college experience. I remember citing everything because I was afraid I might get into hot water! After going through the module I am less fearful. Perhaps I would feel 100% confident after teaching the actual information I learned within the module. After all, it is said that you are sure to truly know the material after you teach it. The grade levels I have taught and will teach are early childhood up to fourth grade. That said, I think it would be a huge relief to have the students use Heartland for all of their resources because of the built in safety net provided. I know I would feel better using it for my own use! A great example that I zoned in on right away was The Mailbox! I was thrilled to see it is included, as I used to pay for a subscription! I definitely would feel a lot more comfortable using it through Heartland and being able to check the sources and cite them if necessary.

I have always known the basics of copyright laws, but the module for Copyright and Fair Use was helpful as a reminder of the things I already knew but I was surprised to learn a few new things. As students get older, their work consists of more materials that are online and it is just as important to teach them the rules/laws as it is for me to know them. It seems as if using the AEA resources might be the safest way to ensure we are following copyright laws within the classroom. I always preach about plagiarism and copyright in my class and our school librarian does a great job of going over all important information regarding copyright. I think it might be worth showing some videos/clips about copyright laws before we start any research.

The copyright lesson was fabulous! It cleared up a lot of confusion for me. Prior to this, if I ever had a copyright concern, I would either just err on the side of caution and not use the resource, or simply ask my school librarian for her advice. Now I feel more confident in recognizing copyright infringements. For example, I previously didn't know whether or not it was okay for me to make copies of an article from a Jr. Scholastic magazine. I also wasn't sure if showing (educational) movies in class was okay, or if I was partaking in a big no-no by doing so. The copyright lesson also greatly clarified for me what it means when people say the "public domain". I foolishly thought if it's posted on Google Images then it's the public domain. Yeah, that's not how it works apparently. Whoops!

Now that I've gone through this course, I find it much more helpful to have a database of resources I can safely use without the guesswork built in. I will be referring to the AEA resources in the future when I need a visual or audio clip. When in a pinch I now know I can use Google Images as long as I filter it for creative commons. I can't believe I never knew this was an option to select! I will definitely be referring my students to the AEA resources and showing them how to browse Google using the creative commons filter.

I have always found copyrights confusing to this day.  When I was young, it was easy, don't copy pages out of books or quote authors without giving reference and you basically follow copywrite laws.  
  Somewhere that I read a thread, gave the prefect example of common copyright missuse in slide show videos.  In our small town, every highschool graduate, wedding, and funeral has a slide show with photos and music.  It also makes since that schools block -Youtube a simple solution all at once.  I can go to the AEA online resources to find my digital material, and the copyrighted material is organized and clearly labeled.  AEA has done a great job with everything to do with this issue.

If I need to  come back to this module and review anytime, I will make sure I am using Copyright, correctly.  

Copyright is a difficult issue to understand completely and I am glad I know now there are resources available to help with this.  As a parochial school, we try to be super-conscious of not "stealing" someone's intellectual property.  I think the "10% and time/length limit" will stick with me, but it is an intricate subject.
I recently had a colleague whose daughter (not at our school) was asked by a PE teacher to video herself doing a dance and post it on Tik-Tok.  This came to my mind as I was reading this section on Copyright.  My colleague did not feel it was an appropriate platform for a school assignment and now I am wondering what the copyright situation would be on that video??  There is JUST SO MUCH stuff out there- I can't see how anyone keeps track of it all and makes sure it is used appropriately and legally.

  I am not even going to deny I have avoided using things simply because I wasn’t sure if I would be sharing them correctly or even if I was able to use them in my classroom without violating the copyright.  The explanations of Classroom Use, TEACH Act, and Fair Use did help me understand a little more.
Classroom use must be original work, may only be used in one classroom, only one person may have a copy, and only permission to perform or display, not to be copied.  TEACH Act differs as it is the online education version of copyright material.  The main thing to remember is to have a password to protect material from those who are not students in the class.  Fair Use is the concept that allows teachers to make paper copies.  This concept follows four major questions which ask the purpose of copying, the nature of copyrighted work, the amount being copied, and what effect will the copying have on the original owner of the material being copied.  I will probably revisit this course's copyright section again, and possibly one more time when I have questions in the future.  It is a useful resource for me! Thank-you!

Having completed the copyright module through Using Iowa AEA Online Resources, I have a much clearer understanding of copyright. It is not as restrictive as I previously believed. It was a relief to learn about the protections and freedoms provided by Public Domain, Classroom Use, TEACH Act, Fair Use, and Creative Commons.

Knowing my ability and responsibilities for using materials in my classroom is helpful. Previous to this module, I didn't realize that I couldn't share certain information/materials/works through email or Google classroom with absent students. Now I can create a better plan for providing enriched lessons for all of my students.

Having the plethora of resources that are already available and vetted through AEA will make research conducted by my students much easier. As a teacher, I can rest easier when my students are searching/researching. AEA resources will protect them from inappropriate and inaccurate material from the wide web. My goal is to help my students reach the place where AEA Resources are their first reaction to research rather than heading straight to Google.