Copyright and Fair Use: Short Reaction

These questions were really interesting. I have to admit that most of them it was a guessing game because my knowledge on copyright and fair use is rather simple. As I was reading through all of the questions I realized that I would have the potential to be at fault and guilty for breaking many of the “guidelines” set forth regarding copyright and fair use.
The first question that surprised me was number one! I answered false and it was true. If a student should break a CD-ROM the teacher can make another copy (in the library) for records and crucial information. I just thought that copying something like that would be wrong, no matter the circumstance. I guess I assumed the worst in this case.

The second question that I found interesting was number five. I answered true and it was false. A teacher can make copies for his students of an interactive CD-ROM but the number of students who can use the program at one time is restricted. I thought this was a little dim because restricting how many can use it at a time can not only hidden the students learning together but the teacher’s work.

Question number seven I answer false and it was true. This one made me sort of mad due to the fact that if a school has a password-protected website, for families and faculty, that it is ok for teachers to post work on there without permission. It is ok that teacher post whatever they want without permission? What if another family saw someone else’s child’s work and felt there was bias or a bias among faculty? I felt that this one was wrong. I feel that in every circumstance, permission should always be requested.

Jumping to numbers 13 and 15, I got all three in a row wrong. These questions were under the video part of the copyright and fair use. I learned that my own intellectual property as well as someone I interview or a fellow classmate’s is at risk to be used without permission, at least as long as it is used for educational purposes. Again, permission, in my eyes, should always be required.
The other question in this set showed me that teachers can not make a compilation of movie clips from various movies and show it as a lesson or part of a lesson in the classroom. The teachers can use free film clips from an online site. This one just makes me angry that teacher have to go through such much mud in order to help their students learn, to provide them with a little fun through technology.

The next question under the multi media section was that teachers, if found a machine, can purchase a machine that defeats the copy protection on just about everything and let the students use it for their projects and so forth. This was interesting, although I answered false. It was neat to know that at least teacher can have some privileges under the copyright and fair use.

The last question I found rather interesting was number 19, which I answered as true when it was false. A high school, that produces a DVD yearbook, can not include a “top ten music hits” because it is not being used for instructional purposes. This I found to be frustrated. It felt like just another limitation that teachers and students have to deal with and go through.

I sincerely hope that one day the guidelines or regulations for copyright and fair use can be cleaned up to help teachers and students, not hinder them in teaching or learning. I understand why we have copyright and fair use guidelines and such, but the restrictions involved within not just computers and software but the internet, video, and multi media creates such problems in the classroom. Therefore, it makes it difficult for teachers to teach with technology and students to learn with technology.