TeachersFirst's Copyright and Fair Use Resources
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This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers, parents, and students understand concepts of copyright and Fair Use. This collection includes instructional activities about copyright and collections/tools to use images, music, and texts legally, either through Fair Use or Creative Commons licensing. Use these resources to model and teach ethical use of electronic media or to find copyright-safe raw materials for student projects. Be sure to share these resources with students for them to access any time they have a project to do.
Explore our entire collection of resources tagged copyright, creative commons, and/or plagiarism.
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Teaching Copyright - Electronic Frontier Foundation
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): air (115), copyright (43), plagiarism (31)
In the Classroom
Use when teaching essay writing and how to cite sources. Plan a unit on plagiarism using the resources on this site or incorporate them into your existing research units. Introduce this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Then have students do the activities on this site independently or in small groups. The culminating activity here is a trial; plan to use this with the entire class with each member having a distinct role. Why not video record the trial? Share the video using a resource such as Teachers.TV reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Tales from the Public Domain: Bound By Law - Center for the Study of the Public Domain (Duke Law)
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): air (115), copyright (43), media literacy (84)
In the Classroom
Since this content requires concentration and understanding of concepts beyond the typical high schooler, you may want to share selected frames from the book on your interactive whiteboard or projector as discussion starters or inspiration for debate on copyright issues. Whether you are introducing a research project that requires adherence to Fair Use and proper documentation, are coaching a debate team, or prompting a piece of persuasive writing on this hot topic, this resource will provide fodder for discussion. Don't expect mastery of the legal concept, but you will certainly hear opinions as students navigate this "book."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Academic Integrity - Ryerson University
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): cheating (2), plagiarism (31)
In the Classroom
Downloading the scripts would offer an opportunity for groups of students to act out the episodes, always a popular idea. Having 5 groups of students watch different episodes and then report on them is another way to use the site. You can also have students watch certain episodes as assignments or enrichment. Be sure to check out the additional resources shown at the end of each episode. Social studies teachers assigning research projects may want to make these tutorials available for reference at research time.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Podcasting Legal Guide - Creative Commons
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
If your class is set to "publish" their recorded exploits, working through this site with them would be a great introduction to the "rules of the road" for journalists in general.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Understanding Fair Use - University of Minnesota
Grades
1 to 12In the Classroom
Introduce this site to the class with a projector or whiteboard, and then replace pencil and paper notecards by having partners read this and take notes with an online tool such as Memo Notepad, reviewed here; tell students to be sure to save the URL to share their notes and questions with you and their peers. Next, at the end of your copyright and fair use unit, modify student learning by challenging them to demonstrate their learning by creating an inforgraphic using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Avoiding Plagiarism - Purdue University
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): cheating (2), plagiarism (31)
In the Classroom
Share this site on the interactive whiteboard to establish a set of rules before beginning a research project or paper with your class. Teachers can even post the site on their teacher webpage, emphasizing it's importance and allowing students to reference it both in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Copyright with Cyberbee - Cyberbee
Grades
2 to 12In the Classroom
Introduce this site to the class with a projector or whiteboard, have students use the interactive, and then replace pencil and paper notecards by having partners take notes with an online tool such as Memo Notepad, reviewed here; tell students to be sure to save the URL to share their notes and questions with you and their peers. Next, at the end of your copyright and fair use unit, enhance student learning by challenging them to demonstrate their learning by creating an inforgraphic using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Copyright Kids - The Copyright Society of the U.S.A.
Grades
3 to 6tag(s): air (115), copyright (43), plagiarism (31)
In the Classroom
Share with students on an interactive whiteboard or with a projector. The site is text heavy so pair weaker readers with stronger ones, or you could use a tool such as Immersive Reader, reviewed here, or Text to Speech Reader, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Citing Sources - Duke University
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): citations (33), plagiarism (31)
In the Classroom
This site would be useful for any teacher who assigns a research paper, regardless of the subject. Open this site on the interactive whiteboard or projector and share it with students before assigning them a research project. To insure that students are reminded of plagiarism and the importance if citing, copy this link on to any student assignment sheets that contain information about their research paper.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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U.S. Copyright Office Home Page - Library of Congress
Grades
1 to 12In the Classroom
Use this site as reference when teaching about copyright. Share with older students to investigate on their own.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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