Course info

Though copyright and fair use have long been components of researching and publishing, whether in the college classroom or at the scholarly level, these issues have gained renewed and reconsidered interest in the wake of COVID-19. Identifying and making use of resources to continue providing meaningful education remotely became a challenge. Many faculty had concerns about what kinds of resources could and could not be used ‘safely’ in terms of copyright. The presenter received many queries regarding the viability and propriety of using digital resources in online instruction (though some of these queries arose in the wake of increased online instruction in general prior to the quarantine). Consequently, the presenter realized a need for a course to help faculty and instructors understand copyright and fair use, with the latter being key to teaching, learning, and research interests. As part of understanding intellectual property (IP) and IP rights, this course will cover Creative Commons Licensing (CCL) and how it represents an alternative to traditional copyright. CCL represents a way to disseminate and share scholarly information and knowledge with greater freedom than traditional copyright while still operating within that framework. Participants will learn the characteristics and pros/cons of copyright, fair use, and the six major types of CCL.