Copyright and a Great Example of Powerpoint April 5, 2008
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Articles/Videos, Fair Use.add a comment
By way of a Daring Fireball post, here is a link to Larry (I’ve always called him Lawrence) Lessig’s TED presentation on copyright. Worth watching for the content, which explains why the current state of copyright is working against creativity, not for it. The presentation is also a great example of how to use Powerpoint, or any presentation software, effectively by mixing short amounts of text, images, and voice. This presentation came shortly before Lessig left the copyright wars to focus on campaign finance laws in an effort to reform congress.
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/187
BitTorrent Strikes Back February 16, 2008
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Fair Use, Net Neutrality, Opinion.add a comment
BitTorrent, the protocol, essentially allows for the distributed exchange of files. It isn’t really much different from http or ftp. Following copyrights and other applicable laws, it is efficient and simple. Distributing material in violation of copyright or other laws is wrong and creates problems for everyone else. Comcast, in their infinite wisdom, has been putting BitTorrent on a slow track, ostensibly because it uses too much of the service for which its customers have already paid. Turns out that won’t slow down the protocol for long. TorrentFreak is reporting that work is already underway to circumvent Comcasts questionable restrictions. The article explains the issue better than I can.
the new tracker peer obfuscation technique is especially designed to be a workaround for throttling devices
http://torrentfreak.com/bittorrent-devs-introduce-comcast-busting-encryption-080215/
Free Knowledge January 26, 2008
Posted by Matthew Woolums in 21st-Century, Articles/Videos, Fair Use, Opinion.add a comment
One of the issues I advocate for in this blog is free access to information. I’m not advocating that educators disregard copyright laws, but I do believe that those laws currently run counter to the original intent of the founding fathers and framers of the US Constitution. Virtually limitless protection of access to and use of information to the extent now codified is limiting creativity and innovation, not encouraging it.
Steve Borsch (Connecting the Dots) expresses some of what I’m trying to say in a much clearer way than I can. In his post ‘What if all human knowledge was free and accessible?’ he draws a parallel between the current trend of “Internet-centric knowledge repositories” and the distribution of food. What was once complicated and difficult has become (in the case of food) simple. That simplicity allows us to focus on something more important.
NOW imagine a world where “content and knowledge calories” are cheap and you can access baseline knowledge for some given subject or topic while having easy, shrink-wrapped-like access to the high value knowledge, presented in an easy to use and learn way.
I’m not completely sold on the idea that information and calories provide us with a good analogy (at one point Steve points out how we’re all getting fat — what does that look like for information?) but I do agree that Web 2.0 trends are simplifying access and use of information. Mashups and widgets are good examples of early Web 2.0 end-user tool building. I doubt that the person who first started using a wheel envisioned our global system of roads and rails for transportation.
Recognize that the Internet is making the inefficient, efficient and that’s the primary reason an initiative like an open education resource vision will get traction. Supply chains, processes, methods, collaboration, communication and a multitude of other key areas are being poked-n-prodded with new startups or approaches as people try to figure out how to leverage the Internet to get rid of the inefficient and allow us all to jump to the next level of creativity, innovation and human cognition.
What will be the end result of “Internet-centric” tools of today? What are the implications for the classroom?
We are on the cusp of a global revolution in teaching and learning. Educators worldwide are developing a vast pool of educational resources on the Internet, open and free for all to use. These educators are creating a world where each and every person on earth can access and contribute to the sum of all human knowledge. They are also planting the seeds of a new pedagogy where educators and learners create, shape and evolve knowledge together, deepening their skills and understanding as they go.
Educating the world’s children is the right thing to do and is key to enabling and assisting them to achieve self sustaining status. But it also ensures that we have a hope the world’s knowledge will achieve equilibrium and thus higher standards of living, creativity and innovation will emerge everywhere.
Connecting the Dots: What if all human knowledge was free and accessible?
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Recut, Reframe, Recycle January 3, 2008
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Articles/Videos, Fair Use.add a comment
The Center for Social Media at American University has posted a terrific article with an embedded video discussing copyright and fair use. There is also an extensive list of links to videos that should be covered by fair use that include remixed, mashed, or rehashed copyrighted materials. This would be a great resource for encouraging a classroom discussion about copyright and ethical online behavior, but most of the links are probably blocked in most districts.
http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/publications/recut_reframe_recycle
Tips for Integrity - Student Edition December 18, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Articles/Videos, Fair Use.add a comment
Joyce Valenza recently posted a terrific set of points for students to help them understand why integrity in education is so important. If you’ve ever wanted a way to start the discussion in your classroom about cheating and why it is wrong, please read the linked article below. I had a difficult time selecting just one quote to whet your appetite:
Integrity matters in our community. When you cheat intentionally, you lose the respect of people who care about you and want to see you succeed. You may also lose the respect of your peers. We set in place a policy to define all of our responsibilities in creating a culture based on integrity.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1340000334/post/1500018150.html?nid=3714
Fair Use or Misuse October 14, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Articles/Videos, Fair Use.add a comment
eSchool News online digs into a report on fair use from researchers at Temple University’s Media Education Lab, American University Washington College of Law’s Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property, and American University School of Communication’s Center for Social Media. The report makes the point that teachers are confused about fair use, and that results in some teacher being too cautious which compromises the content of their class, while other teachers are not cautious enough which can put the teacher/school/district at risk of violating copyright laws.
The report recommends a two-pronged solution to the problem: First, teachers should learn more about the “clear and unambiguous rights” they already enjoy under copyright law; and second, the education community should develop and disseminate a “code of practice” for the fair use of copyrighted materials by educators.
The article also includes a link to the report itself.
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryRSS.cfm?ArticleID=7430
