For myself, the internet feels like outer space, that there is so much that I do not know about. That is why I feel like this class is challenging, but at the same time very useful for my future career as an educator.
This past week we blasted off with the exploration of Creative Commons License and OER (Open Educational Resources) where we learned what they are and how to utilize them with our education. To be honest, I did feel overwhelmed after this lesson, not knowing the difference between Copyright and Creative Commons, and being overloaded with the amounts of resources we are actually able to use for OER.
To start with what is Creative Commons License, number one – it is awesome! It allows the use of material that is shared onto the internet, that as future educators we are able to use material, adapt it and then re-share it with the online world. Creative Commons truly empowers learning, creativity and community, it is an ongoing way of learning. Where as, Copyright is information that is uploaded onto the internet, but not intended for shared use. The one thing I learned that even with Copyright, when you are a teacher, you are able to use certain material within the grounds of Fairdealing. What is Fairdealing? It is a great source that lays out the rules behind using Copyright within education. Certain rules like, you can only use the rights of a play when using it in drama class only, or you can only use 10% of the material that you have found. Fairdealing was something I never knew about, but the other option for using information from the internet is called OER (Open Education Resources).
OER to keep with the space theme, was out of this world! What was overwhelming at first now is a great way with multiple resource platforms that are free to use not just as an educator, but as a student too. Sites like Unsplash allow you to use photos, or Curriki has endless information of different topics if you are teaching. As well, the trick that I learned because I do love Google, is that you can go to Advance Search and change usage to “Creative Commons License” and sites with those rights will only appear. The most important thing I took away was although it is information that you are able to take and use, it is always important to pay attribute to where it came from.
