Copyright Laws in Teaching

Everyone wants to feel like their work is appreciated and rightly accredited. The feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment drives people to work hard and make things better. I believe part of the reason why copyrights were made is to retain this drive and ambition. Without it, the work of someone may not result in proper recognition to its creator. Others could use it and call it their own. In this regard, ideas are being stolen and used without proper permission. If this went on long enough, people may stop trying to create good things simply because no one appreciated their work and gave them recognition. 

Copyright is used to help ensure that whatever gets created, gets protected. Not to say that nothing can be shared, but copyright allows the sharing to be regulated. Copyright was made to prevent someone from taking a piece of work and presenting it as their own. It also prevents people from taking something and building on that work and getting recognition. However, some people may want their work to be the building block for something greater. Copyright laws allow for the creator to grant permission to others to use their work. 

"Fair Use" fits into copyright laws by allowing teachers to use 10% of certain things for educational purposes. This prevents teachers from unfairly taking advantage of things that are not theirs, while still allowing them the resources to teach.  As teachers this gives us a lot of material to enhance our lessons. At times it may feel like copyright laws only hold back more of what we could use. It also forces us to look at the grand scheme of a piece of work and take what we think will be most beneficial to the students. It also teaches our students by example, responsibility in the world. It teaches them that not everything is theirs for the taking. 

For books, blogs, articles, videos, etc. on teaching copyright, go here:
http://www.teachingcopyright.org/resources
For questions about copy right laws, go here:
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/copyright.html
All teachers should take a look at this:
http://www.edutopia.org/copyright