Copyright Law And Technology In The Classroom

 

            

      Everyday, people use information from different sources. We use this information to transmit things we learned and that we want others to know about. Even in the littlest thing, we use information from other people. Sometimes, law shelters this information and it can get us in trouble if we do not use it correctly. The law protects creators and works. At the same time, it seeks a balance so this information can be open to the public. Other things are not protected by copyright. These include facts and ideas. A common term about the improper citation and use of someone else's information, generally when writing a paper, is plagiarism. I always remember that all of my English teachers would tell me: “If it is not a fact or something that everybody knows, cite it.” This helped me remember that the information I gather from different sources is protected and that I should give credit to the words and ideas of their creator. Personally, I would not like to know that someone claimed something I created or invented as his or her own work. It would not be fair.

            It is important to give credit to other people’s work. This will keep you out of trouble with copyright laws. A good thing to keep in mind is that if it is not yours, give credit to the creator. The more you are informed about copyright law, the easier this gets.

            One of the things that have opened the door to information in many ways is the internet. This also applies to the use of technology in the classroom also. The internet allows us to share and find vast information. One should be careful with the use of the internet and technology in the classroom and in any other setting. Copyright law protects most of the information we find on the web. Some of the things that can get you in trouble, and the most common one, is to download copyrighted material. Most teachers use videos to enhance a lesson for visual and auditory learners. They should be careful to use material appropriately and legally. One of the ways a teacher can minimize the risk of violating the copyright law when using a video is to use an original DVD or ask for permission from the author. This issue may affect me too, as a teacher, when I plan to incorporate the use of videos in my classroom.

            Another thing that might affect me as a teacher is the use of music media in the classroom. I might plan an activity that requires me to use a certain song. The easier way to get the song would be to download it. If I am not careful, I might end up downloading copyrighted material. This is just an example of how the copyright law may affect my use of technology in the classroom. After learning about this issue, I see myself being more careful about the way I found and share information with my students. In addition, I will be careful on how I use technology in my classroom without breaking the copyright law. 

Resources:

Schools, the internet, and copyright law.

Copyright law in Illinois

Copyright and Fair Use