Olivia Ducholke

Module 4: Copyright & Citations

    In Module 4 we learned about copyright and the importance of citing works used and obtaining permission to use or reporuduce materials that may be protected by law. When it comes to students understanding these concepts it is just as, if not even more, important to ensure their understanding. Kids and teens do a lot of communicating and producing online. They download music, view material on apps, make posts on many social media sites using information obtained from other sites and even make their own videos. Even though many of these behaviours are legal, they are constantly bombarded with pop ups and warnings that they are part of a risky online cycle of behaviour...but they don't necessarily understand why, nor do most of them take the time to investigate. Rather than risking the fact that these constant discouragements may repress a natural inclination to explore and create, we can keep the innovative spirits alive and well by creating an awareness around a few simple steps they can use to protect themselves in the process. Part of explaining this is to make sure there is an understanding of what a digital footprint is as well as an ethical online citizenship. The other important part though, are the laws and citation guidelines that make their sources usable and to diminish the thought that their creative and inquisitive ways are strengthened and protected.