Copyright Infringement Video

I found the video about "Copyright Infringement" to be very interesting. I have definitely been a bad teacher in the past. I was going to incriminate myself, but I'm sure everyone reading this posting can guess what I have done. Will I stop doing it? I'm not sure. There is definitely value in reading the book and then watching the movie as a culminating activity or reward.

In the past I have read books and then watched the movie and tied the two together. I have found using a Venn Diagram to compare the two versions is a great activity. When I taught fifth grade I took it a step further and had my students write their book/movie reports from the perspective of which one was better. So, again, it raises the question, "Will I stop because this activity may land me in hot water with my bosses or come big corporation?" My gut response is no. I am a type A personality. I do not like being told what I can and cannot do. Which is interesting to me that I chose to enter an field where so much is dictated to me. The truth is I do not have complete autonomy in my job. I do have to answer to my principal, my superintendent and the board of education (if my actions warranted their review of my position).

On the flip side, I do have some control. When the door closes and it is me and my twenty students. I am the one in charge. I decide how the information is delivered. I like what Karl said in class about bringing a situation out in the public if a major corporation, or one of its lackeys, were trying to stop me from using their information to enhance my curriculum. By doing this it might save my job if I were ever in a tight spot. Or it may not.

This topic is making me think more about the information that I use in my curriculum. What could be taken out that is controversial? What could be construed as copyright infringement? What do I steal off the Internet that is breaking the law? I need to think carefully about this issue because I like my job. I do not want to be a pure pawn or drone teacher that teaches to the "tests". I like Karl's comment that, "teachers are purveyors of culture and information" (paraphrasing a bit because I do not remember exactly how he put it). I know to some extent that I am a pawn in the system and lack a certain level of control in what I do in my teaching practices. Although, I enjoy getting off the "Grid", per say, and will keep teaching on the edge. What I won't do is go talking about it around the teachers lounge, water cooler or in the main office.

The last thing I have to say is I listened to an interesting news story this morning on NPR about the "Fair Use" information act. From what I learned from the news story is that it is the step-child of the copyright infringement act. Regardless, I need to learn more about both of these topics. I do not want to be a teacher that gets him/herself in trouble because I do not know the law. If I know the law, then I can decide whether or not the rewards out way the risks and consequences of being caught. In my opinion, knowing the information and the law is the most important part. Being in the dark is being ignorant and lazy on my part.