SAGE ADVICE
TEACHERS’ USE OF INTERNET MATERIALS IN THE CLASSROOM
C
hanges to our country’s copy- right laws in 2012 have estab- lished a clearer legal framework for digital technology and use of internet materials for learning
purposes. Updating our country’s copyright law to address Canadians’ evolving digital learning needs has been long overdue. So, it is very good news that the new copyright law supports the use of the internet in class- rooms.
NEW INTERNET AMENDMENT
A new internet provision in the Copyright Act establishes that teachers and students can legally conduct routine classroom ac- tivities such as downloading, saving and sharing publicly available internet text or images. Teachers and students can also in- corporate internet materials into assign- ments, and exchange works electronically with one another. Where the copyright law was once silent
on activities like surfing and using online resources, it is now stated explicitly within our country’s Copyright Act. The internet amendment permits teachers and students to use publicly available materials on the inter- net for educational purposes without having to pay copyright or license fees. This internet amendment is essential in a
day and age when our federal and provincial/ territorial governments are simultaneously increasing our levels of connectivity and positioning the country to be a leader in the information age.
RESPECTING CREATORS
However, this new internet amendment does not allow teachers or students to use any and all material that they find on the internet. The new internet amendment applies
only to material that has been posted to the internet with the authorization of the copy- right holder and without any barriers to re- strict access such as encryption or password protection. Teachers and students must re- spect any “digital” lock that in any way re- stricts access or use of the internet content.
44 ETFO VOICE | FALL 2014
The new education amendment does not
apply to materials that are not publicly acces- sible. Content creators and copyright owners still have a right to continue to sell and re- ceive payment for their works through sub- scription, password and payment technolo- gies. In this way, the amendment respects the rights of those creators and other copyright holders who post materials online for com- mercial purposes. Note
as well that the new internet
amendment does not apply to pirated text- books or films. The use of pirated materials is akin to pla-
giarizing works. The education sector teaches respect for creators and copyright. Students are required to cite materials used no matter what the source, as a matter of appropriate use of materials created by others. This practice teaches respect and recognition for intellec- tual property. Teaching the inappropriateness of pirating materials is one way the education sector re-enforces respect for creators.
INTERNET IN THE CLASSROOM
The internet provides us with access to a wealth of information. Computers and digi- tal technology are invaluable tools in the learning process. With the new copyright law, teachers have wonderful new opportu- nities to teach and use online materials. The new copyright law and its internet
amendment ensures that both teachers and students can reap the full benefits of the evolving digital technology without harming the interests of copyright owners. n
For more information on the internet amendment and recent changes to copyright law, refer to the publication Copyright Matters! found on- line at:
cmec.ca/Publications/ Lists/Publications/ Attachments/291/Copyright_ Matters.pdf.
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