Actually, based on the results I had when I took the on-line quiz, I wasn't surprised to find that my fellow educators were about as copyright savvy as I was. There were consistent areas where all were aware, to some degree, what the basics of Fair Use Law entailed. I was surprised that the majority of those who responded were not aware of the difference in regulations regarding face-to-face and use of digital technology in distance education. I remembered some of this information from my grad course in writing.
One person that took the quiz had just completed a paper on copyright laws in education and did very well on the quiz overall. He didn't remember about Creative Commons Licensing until I gave him a few hints, and forgot the name of the Teach Act, but knew what it was. All agreed that educators were not exempt from copyright laws but knew that we had a separate set of rights that applied.
Most indicated that, when making multiple copies for a classroom that the originator of the work should be present on the copies, or that special permission or a few needs to be paid before it is done. When asked if they went to those lengths on multiple copies they were honest and said they did not. One stipulated that they looked for workbooks that were created with the intent that multiple copies would be made by an educator. Is that an example of a work with Creative Commons Licensing? Several also stated that they make most of their own work or copy material on-line that has the copyright information included.
The gist of the quiz indicates that the teachers I work with have a basic understanding and respect for copyright laws, however, a brush up course would not be unadvised. I got from no one, a blatent disregard for copyright laws, only, like myself, a general ignorance of some of its finer points.
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