Image: A Guide For Legally Using Images On The Web by Patkar Mihir. (2013) Retrieved from https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/concerned-copyright-guide-legally-using-images-web/
Ever run into problems trying to access work of others and not being able to because of a certain Research Commons or a Copyright Act. I have! I’m sure we all have faced these problems at some stage in our educational journey, these are called ethical problems. I enjoy sharing resources I have made and resources I have obtained from others (with their verbal permission), and there is the resource mainframe with the click of a button, our good friend the internet. My thinking is why ‘reinvent the wheel’ it makes sense to me to share what we have in order to save other teachers and educators time to look for it online or creating it themselves. Does this sound like you too?
Unbelievably there are many who think like us but we do need to be aware of what we are sharing to ensure there aren’t any copyright or research commons noted on the resources. To be honest I don’t understand why people share their resources if they are not willing to actually SHARE their resources. I understand some sell their resources online or have a business/ organization to sustain but sometimes it feels like resources are being dangled in front of your face taunting you, buy me and save time on creating your own. Do we really want to spend hundreds of dollars? I’m not too sure about you but if I had to buy all my resources I probably would be broke.
So let us now talk about creating our own educational resources. I soon discovered in my second year as a beginner teacher that all the resources that I had created in my own time, for my classroom, belonged to the school. That is where I learned about a Creative Commons Policy. I was very fortunate as the school Principal and Board of Trustees allowed me to take all resources I owned and had created.
Never thought you would ever break the law. Elizabeth Heritage (2015) writes “There is currently a major problem with copyright in education.” It seems that many of us may have because we are unaware of the circumstances. Our employers hold the copyrights to all our resources that we create whilst in their employment.Without permission from the board to take our resources with us, we are breaking the law. But wait! Even though this seems like a barrier it can easily be overcome by creating a Creative Commons policy with your school.
Creative Commons
Creative Commons Aotearoa is a non-profit organization that helps people share their copyright works for reuse by others. They also provide some fantastic resources and tips to inform your school to learn how to create their own Creative Commons licensing that’s if you haven’t already one in place. These can be found by clicking on the link Creative Commons Aotearoa NZ.
In all my years of teaching, I have worked hard in creating my own stack of resources and building onto them adding more as I learn with my students and teach them, and obtain resources from colleagues and friends. And, I’m sure you all have too! But just to be safe, ensure you talk with your school Principal or the Board of Trustees, or create a policy that allows you to take your resources with you. Otherwise, your hard work and energy put into them may have been a waste of time.
What are your thoughts on such an ethical dilemma that occurs worldwide?
I agree, sharing is what teachers so well. If its going to save someone else some time and you know it worked well for you, go ahead and share it. I love how teachers share their art ideas, photo's, links and even step by step guides on the Facebook Primary Art Ideas page. I've used it for inspiration and even added my own spin sometimes. Teachers can do that too take an idea and personalise it. It puzzles me why some want to turn sharing resources into a money making venture. Then again time is money and if the cap fits buy it!
ReplyDeleteSome people share recipes and some dont. I do but I add my name to the title to help them remember where it came from! If they can bake it as well as me then pass it on as their own - fine. Food is the winner!
Some say copying is the highest form of flattery. Just don't over do it and try to be yourself sometimes - back yourself!
Hi Nic,
DeleteI think sharing is one of the best time savers there is considering it feels like I don't have enough time in the day to recreate the wheel, mark the children's learning, plan learning, and try to create resources I do not have. Though I do agree with you, if I am borrowing someone's idea or resources I try to adapt it to suit the learning purpose and to cater for the different ability levels in my classroom.
I'm terrible. If it's published, and online it's free as far as I'm concerned.
ReplyDeletePeople however do have the right to earn money for their awesome ideas.
How do we balance this? Is copyright the best way of safeguarding intellectual property rights?
I wonder if there has ever been a case where a school demanded part of a teachers income from any "Bright Ideas!" they capitalised on.
I also wonder if a teacher, who is currently employed, became a successful You Tuber or Blogger and received income for this if the school could then ask for a portion of the income generated? As we are paid a salary and are in the employ of the school.
Hi Maree-Lou,
DeleteYes you are indeed correct in saying people have the right to earn money for their awesome ideas, after all they came up with them and should be allowed to do with them as they please. I think we as educators just need to be aware of copyrights and of safeguarding our own resources we make, obtain and share. Wouldn't that be great if we got paid for our "Bright Ideas!" I think we would all have more money in our pockets. I would love to know more about the You Tube and blogging comment you have made. Wouldn't that make for interesting discussion. Ngaa mihi.
Interesting read here Tatiana, it triggered a memory of when I was a beginning teacher. I developed a sheet for modelling books that basically was a trigger for me and provided myself and my students with guidelines for thinking. I was asked by a teacher from another school if they could have a copy. I didn't think anything of it and said yes, of course!. I was working with a Maths Adviser at the time and she advised me to send it in PDF and make sure my name was on it. This lead to a discussion about sharing of ideas and copyright. Its interesting how times have changed and ownership is not just about a concrete object but also ideas and thinking.
ReplyDeleteI would hate to think that there would come a time when we would stop sharing ideas. I definitely support the thought though that we need to protect our ideas and receive acknowledgement when used by others.
There are always the 'takers' who forget to 'give or share' sometimes!