Understanding copyrights for the classroom

The use of online resources, copyright, illegal downloads, etc. are all hot topics these days. Just recently, Congress debated new laws that would place restrictions upon what information or websites could be shared by places such as Wikipedia or Google. The topic of copyright is a very important one for any person, both individually and in whatever occupation he/she may be in.

Copyright itself is the exclusive ownership of a material. This ownership gives that person the complete rights to their work and they must be give permission before others can use the material. Another important aspect of copyright debate is the fair use doctrine. Under the fair use rights, a person can take excerpts from a work, such as a direct quote, in order to report, teach, research, etc. This does not require permission from the owner. Needless to say, these laws are not generally kept by a large portion of society today. In order to help people to use legal material, Creative Commons was formed where people can post things that can be shared or edited (often with just attributing the owner). This is to give the public an alternative to trudging through the difficult world of copyrights or breaking copyright laws.
My understanding of these issues and laws will become even more vital when I am an elementary teacher. It seems so easy to just copy a picture or watch a video without going through the process of getting permission. I do believe, however, that following these guidelines will provide a good example and will be a tool for teaching. By showing students where to find "free" pictures or articles, they will become more aware of the issues and will see a legal alternative to piracy.

Group Work - Allowing Ideas to Collide

As adults, we can occasionally scoff at the idea of working collaboratively. Mostly likely, this could be because of previous experience where group work proved fruitless or frustrating. Research has shown, however, that working (and especially learning) in groups helps understanding and retention for students.
Recently, I read an article from Tools for Teaching by Barbara Gross Davis, which highlighted the tools that can be used to facilitate postivie group experiences. As I look forward to my future as a teacher, I can see how important these skills are and resolve to use the ideas for classroom.
For instance, I believe guidelines should be placed at the very beginning. Basic rules that are set forth in the beginning can save headaches later on. In some cases, a simple written contract may assist students in learning how to work together fairly. There are also small ways, such as informal learning groups that are formed during the class period for the purposes of talking about the subject. This type of group are very short-term, but can provide a place where ideas can be shared and new thoughts can come forward.
Best-selling author Steven Johnson wrote the book Where Good Ideas are Formed and he spoke of the need for ideas to collide. Allowing the time and space for students to share and receive ideas and to build brand new ideas from the original. This is a vital way for students to achieve their potential when it comes to learning.