A common topic that has come up in every session I’ve attended is copyright issues. I myself am guilty myself of letting students get away with too much in regards to using images that students googled. While the students do cite the sources, they do not always have permission to use them. A great way to get around copyright is to begin using http://creativecommons.org.

The creative commons search feature allows students to find material that is not copyright protected. We should be teaching students about creative commons to help students understand copyright.

Fair use is being stretched beyond what it’s original intent. The United States Copyright Office clearly states, “There is no specific number of words, lines, or notes that may safely be taken without permission. Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining permission.” So, unless you have students find and contact the source for every singe image (which is a nightmare), creative commons is your solution.