Last week we learned all about the different copyright laws. There are many different laws and surprisingly some of them started in the 1800s. Although they may be confusing, following copyright laws is very important. Many laws pertain to different works and it could be very confusing to know which law covers which work. Most works are covered by copyright law though.
This is very important information for me to know as a student. When writing papers or creating any kind of project I have to indicate my source of information. Or at least give recognition to whomever had the original idea. I also need to be careful about what I use in any aspect of my life to be sure that it is credible and legal. I want to follow the law and be smart about what I use and these copyright laws will help me in that way. I also think this class session will help remind me to be more careful about copyright laws even if it feels that copyright may not be important in the situation.
Knowing about copyright laws is crucial for a teacher. I would never want to use anything that wasn't mine in the wrong way. When creating my own projects I need to be careful in finding materials that are not copyrighted or get the permission to use it. Keeping these laws in mind or at least acknowledging the existence of them will be imperative as a teacher, especially if I'm in a team where no else realizes we need to pay attention to copyright. As a colleague I can help other teachers adhere to copyright laws and teach my students the importance of working within copyright law.
