A multimedia presentation is a presentation that uses multiple forms of media. It includes original work by the student, along with some form of copyrighted animation or media material for a specific class or assignment. A typical multimedia project contains at least one of the following: a video or movie clip, music, text, illustrations, photographs, etc… Students may use the presentation for later use as examples of their work and for job and college interviews. Teachers may also use copyrighted material when creating presentations for instructional purposes, conferences, workshops, and as a part of their professional portfolio.
As our students create and produce more multimedia presentations to fulfill class requirements, there is a need for more awareness of copyright and fair use policies. A clear cut definition of fair use is the condition under which you can use material that is copyrighted by someone else without paying royalties. Portion limitations control how much of copyrighted material you are actually allowed to use without having to obtain permission. A good rule to follow when working with copyrighted material is to be conservative and use only small amounts of material.
The guidelines for portion limitations are as follows:
Motion Media: Up to 10% of the total of 3 minutes; whichever is less.
Text Material: Up to 10% of the total or 1,000 words; whichever is less.
Music, Lyrics, and Music Video: Up to 10% of the work but no more than 30 seconds of the music or lyrics from an individual musical work.
Illustrations or Photographs: A photograph or illustration may be used in its entirety. No more than 5 images from one artist or photographer. No more than 10% or no more than 15 images, whichever is less, from a collection.
Numerical Data Sets: Up to 10% or 2,500 fields or cells entries; whichever is less.
Copying of a Multimedia Project: No more than 2 copies may be made of a project.
Copyright Friendly Resources for Educators and Students
Clip Art and Animated Images
Awesome Clipart for Educators
Classroom Clip Art
Phillip Martin’s Free Classroom Clip Art
Pictures
Flickr Commons
FreeFoto
FreeStock
Wikimedia Commons
World Images
Music
Classical Archives
Freeplay Music
PBS Kids Music
RoyaltyFreeMusic
Sounds
Free-Loops.com
Jamendo
Podsafe Audio
Video
NASA’s Observatorium
National Archives
The Open Video Project
Teacher’s Domain
PowerPoint Templates
BrainBetty
Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2011 from http://centerforsocialmedia.org/medialiteracy
Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2011 from http://www.gait-inc.org/GSMF/fairuse.htm
This is a good post. I especially liked the practical aspect of the guidelines for how much of something students can use in their own projects. I must admit that I struggle with what is acceptable to use so I know it is something that students must struggle with as well. Since multimedia projects are becoming more and more mainstream it is good to have this information available and ready. I think it is also important to keep the guidelines in an easy to read format. So much of what I find about copyright and fair use is bogged down in copy heavy text. Copy heavy text strikes fear in many and causes people to skim information or simply not read it at all. These guidelines are a perfect resource for quick and easy reference. I also like your list of resources. I have been working on my digital story and these are some excellent places to find components for it. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteTiffaney,
ReplyDeleteI totally appreciate your comments regarding copyright and teaching our students the appropriate and ethical way to prepare presentations. I find, in my classroom, too many students "copy and paste" not thinking of the consequences. Many times they want to finish quickly and don't realize they are infringing on copyright law when merely copying someone's work as their own.
Along those same lines, teachers have copyright problems as well. Teachers are under pressure to meet standards and to have their students pass standardized tests. Many times teachers rush and make copies inappropriately.
Central High School has a centrally located video/DVD broadcasting operation where all video requests must go through the Media Center. Teachers no longer have video tape machines in the individual classroom, instead, the machines are located in the Media Center and the teacher uses his/her computer to control the video/DVD. This streamlines the process and helps to ensure everyone is following copyright guidelines.
Thank you for your post, nicely done!!
Tiffany, this is an awesome post! I like your recommendation of using "small amounts" of materials as needed. Additionally, the portion limitation guidelines are an excellent guide that I am sure most people have not given much thought. At some point, most of us likely have used information from various sources to pull together a presentation or related task. This information helps now and going forward. The copyright friendly resources are wonderful! This information is a just reminder of the happy median necessary when making the decision to use and how much can be used without pushing limits.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post, thank you!
First off, I really appreciate the copyright friendly sources that you have put together. These are some excellent resources (especially for kids and adults -- such as myself -- who have been guilty of pulling images off google without giving credit).
ReplyDeleteSecond, I know the link itself is going to take up half of my comment space...but the Policies and Procedures Handbook from Frankie Bates Hardy Media Center at Little Rock Elementary has an excellent section on copyright and fair use. It covers the percentages which you specified, and answers common myths that most people have. I think it is an excellent companion piece to your post (which is very informative:)!
Thanks for posting!
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:E2C7X6ilKpgJ:schools.dekalb.k12.ga.us/flatrockes/files/792E0BA7BACA41FF86F115A302AB8D5F.pdf+media+specialists+how+copyright+and+fair+use+really+occurs+in+a+media+center&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgqlkgib97zq2lOS7scHPxeOnvjP0KNmWfGHbCywfJdSPxtAHyADuXZod-7K9SuPeHqMGE7Qyb-VHUItjo3IbEmUu3SfELhTiTNiN04zUTRebtxLTiBtnVL9I-0pSyiUZBwSFXo&sig=AHIEtbRDg7RL2u_W_F4v8a1_se4NhYB6tQ
Sorry, I thought you could just click on the link and go to it. Apparently you have to copy and paste it into your address bar :P!
ReplyDeleteJoy
You make a great point that not only do teachers and media specialists need to be aware of copyright laws, but so do our students. They need to understand that the material that they are pulling from for research projects needs to be cited and credit given to the author or artist. The earlier students become aware of this, the more informed and conscious they will be of these laws. Fair Use does help teachers a bit when it comes to having access to educational materials, but as you mentioned, it should not be abused. I agree that we should be conservative. It is easy for us as teachers to justify taking another’s work and using it in the classroom, but we should understand that these people have a right to have their work protected. Thank you so much for providing some copyright friendly resources. These can be great for teachers and media specialists to use.
ReplyDeleteTiffaney,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the guidelines for fair copyright use. I think I have probably been guilty of doing a little too much copy and pasting in attempts to create great presentations for my students, and vis versa. This presents me with a greater awareness of what I should be doing and teaching my students. This is going to be a great resource to have as a media specialist.
Thanks!
Virginia
Your guideline list and copyright friendly resources is very helpful. I think teachers and students have a common issue and that is copyrighting! As teachers, we are often times in a rush to complete something, copy something, or show something to and for our students and spend little to no time dealing with copyright issues. Your blog was highly informative and gives great insight on the issue.
ReplyDelete