Growing up, avoidance of “plagiarism” was drilled into many of us. We learned to cite our sources in order to give credit where credit was due and to never, under any circumstances, plagiarize, or else we would flunk out of high school or be kicked out of college or maybe even die! For example, I endured minilessons from the librarian every year on how to use EasyBib and why we must cite text evidence or the sources we use during research projects. Despite this emphasis on citing sources, it was not until my undergrad that a teacher ever emphasized the importance of citing pictures, videos, or other creative content or using them impermissibly out of respect for the creator and to practice abiding by copyright laws. After taking courses from that professor and after taking this course through the MIT program, I wonder about the importance of teaching our students about copyright laws. In our increasingly digitized, image-fueled, and social media-oriented world, are we responsible for teaching our students about copyright as well? I would argue that moving beyond plagiarism at the secondary level to discuss what copyright laws are, all of the content they pertain to, why we follow them, and how to do so will empower our students to become responsible digital citizens who respect intellectual property rights.
Similar to teaching our students about plagiarism as we currently do, teaching them about copyright laws helps cultivate a sense of ethics and integrity. By understanding the importance of respecting the intellectual property of others, students will learn to acknowledge the effort and creativity that goes into producing original works, a lesson that extends far beyond the digital world as well. This knowledge discourages plagiarism of all kinds and encourages students to create their own unique content, fostering a culture of originality.
Learning about copyright laws also further develops students' critical thinking skills. By examining real-life scenarios related to copyright infringement, students can analyze and evaluate the ethical and legal implications of using copyrighted materials without authorization. This process promotes critical thinking, as students must consider the consequences and potential harm caused by unauthorized use of intellectual property.
Furthermore, as students navigate the digital landscape, they must understand the rights and responsibilities associated with digital content. Educating students about copyright laws empowers them to make informed decisions regarding the use of copyrighted materials, such as images, music, videos, and written works. For example, around 81% of Americans have a social media profile, so it should not come as a surprise that social media is becoming a significant part of how public-facing companies market themselves and interact with their consumers as well as how individuals can generate income for themselves (Sreenivasan). As a result, understanding copyright laws is now essential in many lines of work beyond publishing or artistic endeavors. Therefore, teaching our students about what they are, how to critically engage with them, and how to abide by them may become important in school as well. By teaching students to seek permission or use materials under appropriate licenses, we will foster responsible digital citizenship, ensuring that students respect the rights of content creators and contribute positively to the online community. This knowledge is essential for preparation for higher education or the workplace, where the use of copyrighted materials is common. Students who are well-versed in copyright laws will be able to navigate research projects, cite sources correctly, and avoid unintentional plagiarism. Additionally, understanding copyright laws helps students protect their own creative works, ensuring they receive proper recognition and compensation for their efforts.
Teaching students about copyright laws is essential in equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the digital world responsibly. By fostering ethical behavior, developing critical thinking skills, promoting responsible digital citizenship, and preparing students for their futures, we will guide our students to become respectful, ethical, and creative participants in the world of intellectual property!
Below is a video from the US Copyright Office that offers a brief explanation of Copyright if that is helpful for considering why we might want to teach our students more about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukFl-siTFtg
Other Sources:
Sreenivasan, S. The New York Times. (n.d.). “How to Use Social Media for Career and Business.” Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/guides/business/social-media-for-career-and-business.
New York University Libraries. (2023). “Copyright Basics.” Retrieved from https://guides.nyu.edu/copyright/basics.
I love your use of personal experiences. I think at some point each one of us also felt as though we would potentially die if we plagiarized. I have been considering how my skillful rewording of sentences in elementary would have been much for efficient had I chose to cite the source instead. Teaching our students about plagiarism is an important skill and one that I think is everlasting.
ReplyDeleteI love this post! Additionally to the value that is gained by directly teaching the importance of copyright laws, I think there is a value in displacing where consequence is coming from. If my teacher gets me in trouble, I will eventually have a new teacher. If I recognize the consequences of violating copywrite law, this knowledge is permanent. Definitely think we should have this conversation more often in education!
ReplyDeleteOMG...I wish we taught copyright law in K12. I think it's so important to understand and I think it can fit in a lot of different places in our curriculum. History, ELA, Art, Music, Here's a fun one I've used with students....why is this not copyright infringement? https://youtu.be/CJn_jC4FNDo
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