Do You Have a Classroom Website?–Copyright Issues

Do You Have a Classroom Website?–Copyright Issues

I think classroom websites are SUCH a great way to stay connected with your students and parents. I have seen some amazing websites where teachers post their objectives and lessons almost daily! Classroom websites are especially beneficial for students who have missed school and for parents to want to ensure their students are staying up to date on their work.

 BUT… yes, there is a but. With the availability of so many resources in digital format lately, I am seeing a large amount of copyright violations coming from classroom, school and even district websites. With the exception of one case (a school that posted my resources after deliberately removing the copyright pages) I am confident that those who have posted the products do not even realize they are in violation of copyright.
Think about any textbook. I’m sure most teachers agree that it’s not OK to scan pages from the textbook, upload them online and make them available for download. That isn’t allowed, right? Digital work is no different. Whether the resource was created by a textbook company, an educational company or an individual, that work is theirs. Posting it online in a way that can be picked up in an internet search is not allowed.

So – what can teachers do? Most educational resources are restricted to a single classroom use. This means that a single teacher can purchase something and use it in all of his/her own classes only. They can distribute this material to their students in any way they see fit – be that in the classroom or virtually. The issue with it being distributed virtually is that it has to be done in a way that still protects the work.

The solution? Password protect your websites. Require a login to view AND download anything. Passwords can be given out to students and parents at the beginning of each school year so they may access anything you post. At the beginning of the next school year, change the password.

A little extra work on your part can help (1) ensure you are not violating any copyright laws, which can be costly mistakes and (2) show those companies/individuals that you purchase resources from that you respect their hard work!

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Hi, I'm Lindsay!

I create ready to go resources for middle school math teachers, so they can get back what matters most – their time!

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