I am so happy that this class is being offered! This seems like something we should all be trained in, especially because of the litigious nature of it. I was aware of this issue as it is sometimes brought up when compiling course readers. However, I have not been as conscientious of it as far as showing videos, making presentations, and sometimes, compiling short handouts. For example, our course reader guidelines say that you can use a certain # of pages without worrying about copyright, so I always thought that I can make a 1-page photocopy from a book and use that as a handout, for example, with attribution to its source. My reading of this law say that I cannot do this - correct?
This has raised a lot of questions - about the difference between in-person and online teaching, as well as the use of different kinds of media and content. I'm hoping these will be answered as we go along, but if not, I will be asking more!
Kristina,
I fully agree. I teach at several different kinds of institutions and I was definitely not aware that there was a distinction in the way that copyright law is applied. It makes me wonder why this is the case, and if that may possibly change at any point.
"fair" is hard to define also
I does help to set parameters
It prevents accidental violations that could affect our school
TAMARA,
I like your quote. "I think that when you have the knowledge, you have the ability to make wiser choices. (Knowledge is power type of thing." You have to figure out who actually owns the copyright of the material you want to use. Sometimes that is easy to find, but other times, you must investigate. Have your school librarian help you.
Renee Shaffer
This lecture was an eye opener. I don't think I fully understood that I had a personal consequence by using pictures in a ppt, etc. I will be reviewing all of my material through this lens now.
I think the copyright law material helps by breaking down the terms. For example, I thought that fair use was the same as non copyrighted material. I didn't realize it pertained to small quotes.
" fair use means that only a limited view of the work is being utilized.'
It's good to know that this type of material is still okay to use.
I think that when you have the knowledge, you have the ability to make wiser choices. (Knowledge is power type of thing.)
I'm still a little fuzzy how we know exactly how to contact the person or group to ask. Who is the right person, etc.
I'm glad I chose to take this course! Can't wait for the next section now!
Minnie ,
Yes, often times we as instructors just need to be made aware of the laws.
Renee Shaffer
I agree with you. I think that understanding the laws makes Instructors more coherent of when copyright issues occur and how to best handle them.
Michael,
Fair use is sometimes seen as the 'get out of jail card" meaning that anyone can use it. but that isn't so.
Renee Shaffer
This is an area of confusion often by faculty that teach and build courses online, especially for- profit universities. It's important to understand the differences between what's legal to use for a state-funded university as well as a privately owned for-profit university. Many confuse the fair use act as a card to allow them to use anything on the web and basically that's just not the case. This law allows instructors to really get an understanding of what's legal and will help them when determining what is appropriate for delivering in their courses, and ensuring its legal.
Kristina,
Thanks so much. It is an eye opener for those of us at for-profits, isn't it?
Renee Shaffer
I was surprised/shocked that there would be a difference in the for-profit vs. non-profit learning environment. Since I am teaching in a non-profit educational institution, I will be researching the TEACH Act. Additionally, I will research the Creative Commons content site.
I am happy to know about the sites where you can confidently use materials like Creative Commons.
Anyone have more resources for images and clip art that is not under copyright?
Thanks,
Virginia
This will help be make sure the content and images within my lectures are consist with current laws. Since I adjunct for several for-profit institutions it was interesting to discovery these law are applied differently for "us". I was already aware of bits and pieces of the copyright laws but this course has already been an eye opener. I did not realize how responsible, and therefore liable, I am for creating lectures that comply with these laws. Excellent information thus far.
Learning about the laws allow one to be informed and helps to prevent breaking them. It protects the individual as well as the institution!
It provides a clearer picture re: expectations and correction actions.
The 1976 U.S.Copyright Law added other media such as dance, novels, motion pictures and many more. This Law is beneficial to instructors because it covers the scope of what is legal and illegal. Instructors know that anything that has been "made, published, or disseminated in the past 100 years is copyrighted". Instructors will be careful only to use legal resources both on class or online. Thanks, Tom
