POST #4: Copyright

After taking this course, I have a better knowledge and understanding of the copyright laws and how they pertain to classroom and fair use.  I didn't know that there is an amount of a book that can be copied for fair use, and to be used in the classroom.  I will definitely use more of the resources offered by the AEA, because I know they are safe to use and will not violate any copyright laws.  I also can be assured that the AEA has previewed and the material is safe for student use. The AEA has really made resources easier for educators to use in their classrooms to complete the missing links in the curriculum.  I am excited about using more resources from the AEA site, because I don't have to worry about whether or not they are child appropriate or educational.

I was somewhat familiar with copyright laws, and have always tried to be careful in copying music and material, unless it was Public Domain; but I didn’t realize that there were so many other ways to break the copyright laws, with online material and such, and this module helped clarify some of that for me.  I also didn’t know how about specific protections for teachers.   I come up with my own curriculum most of the time, but when I do look elsewhere…online or wherever, I will think twice, and I will definitely consider what I learned in this module, and use the safe resources available with the AEA online.

    I have always felt that teachers need to be very careful in what they copy.  The authors of the material we use deserve to be paid for what they have created, so we as teachers must not infringe on that.  I have learned that copyright laws are not as restrictive as I had thought, but I will still be very careful with what I copy and how I use it.  I will be sure to use materials found on Iowa AEA Online that are already approved to be copied for student use, and limit my use of resources from other internet sites.  As teachers we must be sure to teach our students about copyright laws and when it is acceptable to copy another's work.  This should not be a one time lesson, but it should be something we discuss with our classes whenever the opportunity presents itself.

     
     Early in my professional career (41 years ago,  I first taught in the Kirkwood AEA region) my school always had at least one workshop yearly available during staff development that provided information regarding copyright laws.  In the years since, I have had many opportunities and reasons to keep abreast of the laws.  I have been careful to use only that which is personal domain when copying material for personal use.  The laws which protect teachers for using materials for instructional use only have always been very helpful and I have not found myself victim of the "fear factor".  It is always prudent to "know" , however, and the AEA site for clarifying copyright provisions is very accessible and easy to use.

Upon completion of the copyright module for this online course, I feel the only web based resources that my children will use first are those found on Iowa AEA Online and not those materials available on the general web. Because these online databases are licensed by Iowa AEAs for all schools in Iowa.
In addition, I learned that the licenses have specific copying and usage guidelines. My understanding of copyright is more clear when deciding whether it is legal to be used on a project, research or school related assignments we will look to the copyright law, fair use, and licensing. I will use this knowledge to support my children when working at home on school activities and downloading copyrighted materials. I will make classroom students aware of their rights as users of copyrighted materials by referring to briefNOTES.

My knowledge of copyright and fair use has always been lacking.  In my “other” job of video creation and editing, I was always leery of using any material I “found” on the Internet.  In the classroom, as a Substitute teacher, it is obviously not my call what can be done, shown or provide to the students.  I come in to class and do what the teacher has told me to do.  However, I felt that the Copyright and Fair Use module in this class (AEA Online Digital Resources) and the class on Digital Citizenship has enlightened me on the laws of Copyright and Fair Use.  I especially liked the websites and PDFs  that would help guide you through the use of material based on the criteria the law provides (purpose, nature, amount and effect).  I had to laugh however at the statement that “only a judge can determine fair use”.  I think what I will bring away from this module and impart on students whenever given the opportunity is that you need to think every time you include something in your project that came from a source other than your own brain.  Be that music or still images or video.  I would tell the students that one of the safest sources of material (with regards to Copyright) is from the AEA Online Databases.  It is a resource they should all be using.

The copyright module was very informative, well organized and clearly written.  I especially like the Minnesota questionnaire or test for copyright clarification.  I was aware of a great deal of the copyright information as a former full time educator.  Though again I don't believe I've ever seen a self "test" before now.  

The newest information was digital.  Everyone is aware of online piracy of songs, books and movies.  Clarification concerning how much can be utilized without being in violation of the copyright laws was very informative...the 10% rule, classroom use and how to check for copyrighted material on the internet.  

As an educator with access to AEA Online, what a valuable resource in that all of the material on this website has already passed the copyright test.  

Being a band instructor and music teacher, I was already fairly conversant with copyright law, with regard to printed music and published materials.  I very rarely had the necessity of showing videos or using other outside resources in my classroom, so I had never needed to explore the copyright or Fair Use laws outside of that.  I had made the (apparently) mistaken assumption that anything on the internet was Free Use, unless it required a username/password, or a purchase.  

It is really nice to know that by using the Iowa AEA Online resources, I do not need to worry about things being protected by copyright, since they are already approved for classroom usage.  As an educator, that would be a tremendous relief.  As a substitute teacher, however, I do wish there were a way for me to access the Iowa AEA Online resources, as a supplement to what I am asked to teach.  On occasion, I may not be 100% conversant with all of the materials, and having an approved online resource to be able to supplement my teaching might be very valuable.

When I started teaching this was not a major concern, but now after 25 years a lot has changed.  After going through the module of copyright law, I am more conscious of following the rules.  I have to keep reinforcing myself to follow the rules.  From my in- service at school, I was shown several   things on copyright--creative commons. In using google, you need to use the advanced search in order to give credit to the author or etc.  I know see that AEA is also an option.  I can go to AEA online and do my searching for videos, pictures and etc.    AEA already did the filtering for  me and I can use that. This is something that I will be going over with my students as we do poetry unit.  The 10% rule is a good guideline to follow when showing videos and etc when necessary.  I know this is a section that I will be using and going over to show my students and myself the importance in following copyright laws. This is a big struggle for my students so having this resource will help greatly.

Copyright is a complicated subject, but after this course I do have a little better understanding of what it entails. For the most part, I have followed most laws and have taught my students to do so, too.

I have tried to teach my 5th grade students to site where their pictures and information comes from. They often write “google” as the source, until I model how to find where the picture actually comes from. It would be very beneficial to show students how to find images from the AEA sources rather than a google search. Their research could also come from a site where a simple click will show them how to cite their source. Very easy for my students, and very easy for me!

Although I teach my students how to cite their pictures and information at the end of a slideshow or paper, I sometimes forget to do so myself. I add clipart to worksheets or letters home, not thinking much of the copyright laws being broken. Now that I have learned about the AEA’s “iClipart for Schools,” I will insert clipart legally. 


I still feel that educators in general have overused the copyright privileges just because we are in a school setting.  Because of the pace of instruction and the amount of materials available, I feel it is possibly worse.  When I judge for solo contest or other music contests gone are the days where musicians come in with originals except when forced to in high school.  Copies abound.  The copies are then left with the students or packed up for use next year.  Technically, they are supposed to be destroyed from my era.  BUT, the budget cuts of the past two decades restrict teachers from following this and the time committment needed to make the extra copies for use in the classroom.  When I first started teacher, copies were done at the copyshop by a staff member, you turned in an order and got back the product, then it was "do it yourself" on a prep time, then it was "do it yourself" afterschool or before, then it was take it to Kinkos and pay for it yourself.  The small erosion of support within the classrooms for needed day to day items......The liberal use of downloads from ITunes and copied songs is also a concern.  I don't think students stop to consider that many people's livelyhood depends on the pay they receive from selling their music.  If I am performing in a symphony orchestra, the audience is not supposed to hold up their cell phone recording and then post on YouTube.  I just have concerns we are all not thinking before using the variety of online resources that we have now in comparison to years ago.  The flip side is that abuse of copyrighted materials and not documenting sources is in my opinion, worse and yet we have such a wealth to draw from, we don't always appreciate where we started out.

After completing the copyright module in the online training, I have a better idea of what is appropriate, inappropriate, and illegal in regard to copyright. While using many materials is protected under Fair Use and Classroom Use, the module explains very well what the boundaries of these protections are. The module also encouraged me to think not only about what is legally appropriate for my teaching and searching for resources, but also about serving as an example to my students in using online and copyrighted materials.

The module on copyright was very well done and informative. Some of the areas of copyright protection I was aware of, while others were a nice clarification of the rules.  Copyright infringement is something that I have thought a lot about as a teacher, particularly with both printed sheet music and recorded music. So many students (and parents) think nothing of photocopying sheet music for personal use, not to mention copying recorded music.  With so much technology easily accessible at our fingertips, it is easy to forget that just because something can be done does not mean it should be done. I need to work harder to teach my students to respect copyright laws and also how infringement of copyright effects the livelihood of others.

As a teacher with limited resources, printing classroom materials has been almost a daily chore. I definitely look at the the bottom of the page or elsewhere that I print to make sure I don’t violate the copyright. From this course, my understanding of copyright did not necessarily change, but was greatly enhanced into the digital arena. I will definitely use the Creative Commons website when I need permission to copy materials. The Fair Use Analytical Tool from the U of M with its questions will be useful as I use or copy digital media in the classroom.

As for the students, I will include a general copyright warning in my syllabus knowing about access to screenshots or screencasts, especially with the one-on-one computers we have now. The students need to have a lesson on copyright issues and public domain at the beginning of the year to understand the value of someone else’s (and possibly their own) works.

Based on what I thought I knew about copyright before taking the self-paced course, I am glad that I took the course. I could have gotten myself in trouble if I would have kept following some of the practices I have used in class while substitute teaching.  I was unaware of concept “royalty free” material versus using material found off the Internet.  I also was unaware of the material on YouTube being considered “private property,” and that you actually need permission to use an entire video.
With all of the AEA online resources that are available and each the ability option to filter out copyright material, there is no question that students should begin to utilize these resources for their projects instead of going directly to Google for everything.  With the ability to filter out copyright material, students would begin to learn early on why it is important to not use copyright material if they do not have permission.  As they get older (such as high school and/or college), the students would not have a difficult time understanding why they cannot use certain material if it is under copyright.  For myself, I need to make sure I provide material in class that is not violating copyright law, such as showing entire videos from YouTube, presenting pictures from Google that are not royalty free, etc.  This will not only help me set an example for my students, but also help me in doing the right thing when it comes to presenting copyright material.

  I have learned alot about copyright after this course and feel pretty comfortable with when the use of material is appropriate and not.  But with that said, I still think my days of "Googling it" may be done! Well, for classroom resource use anyway!  After diving deeper into what is available through the AEA online resouces, I feel that what my students will need for the classroom is there, easy to access, and safe for them to find.  Often I find myself lead in different directions and finding inappropriate things while searching Google, and I am sure it happens to students as well, often with negative effects. AEA online recources are a safe way to get what we need.

If we/I do need to use Google, I now know how to search for resources with Creative Commons.  Also, I feel that it is very important to teach students the importance of Copyright as well.  Students are so used to the ease of internet searches and often feel that it is ok to use whatever they find.  I will be sharing with my students the information that I have learned about Copyrights, and give them the   tools to do safe searches through AEA online and other internet search options.

Before taking this module I had a basic understanding of copyright. After completing this module I have a more in-depth understanding. The new learning for me was about the TEACH Act, the Fair Use criteria, Creative Common organization and movement. Also the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.  With this new knowledge I will be better able to assist students and utilize the information in my personal life.    
 

After going through the module of the copyright law I have a much better understanding of what you can and can't do.  I orginally thought that copyright meant that you can not copy out of a book from page to page.    The material that you can use is all ready for you to use it and at your finger tips.  It is a tough topic to teach 2nd grade students what plagiarism is.    Using the AEA online resources is a great help to educators in teaching them how to do this.  I know our school district  block sites that are found on on a google site but those on the AEA site have already been filtered and are not blocked by schools and come from a reliable, good source.

After reading and getting the training with the copyright it was a great review of what we can and can't do.  Now it makes sense how when making copies while I was going to school the librarian was always watching closely what we were copying.
It will help me when I am subbing in the classroom to make sure what I am using for teaching follows these guidelines of copyright laws in education.  

After completing the section on copyright laws I have learned that the rules are more lenient than I had previously thought. It's nice to have the confirmation that I am not breaking copyright laws. I will continue to share a variety of materials with my students to increase student engagement and promote 21st Century Skills.