What is Copyright?

Copyright laws allow the creators of original work to receive rights to their work for how it can be used to the public. Using copied documents such as images, photographs, or articles, is illegal unless permission from the creator has been obtained or a payment has been made to the copyright owner. However, Creative Commons has made this process easier so the public will be allowed to use different documents as they have access to what the creator has allowed to be used or shared. Since these documents are properly copyrighted allowing distribution, the public may use them when properly cited. It is a great system if you want to share your creative works along with the power to decide what part of your copyright you will let the public use for free! In teaching, it is important to make sure videos or photos are not shown in class unless you have the rights to do so.

When having to teach students about the importance of copyrights is a critical issue to explain so making it as relatable as possible may be the best way to get the message across. We are taught to not take things that are not ours from others unless we ask the owner. If we go against this, parents are likely to discipline the child as that is not the respectful thing to do. This is very similar to copyright since we need permission from the creator to use documents that belong to them. If permission is not granted, and a student still uses the creator’s piece of work, students need to be informed that there are consequences that follow as that is not legally allowed.  

Ribeiro, L. (June 30, 2008). Children at School [Online Image]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/lupuca/8720604364

Shankbone, D. (March 2008). Children Computing [Online Image]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Children_computing_by_David_Shankbone