Creative Commons

It’s wonderful to be creative. 

Not only for your own mental well-being and enjoyment, but also for the joy that comes from sharing ideas and interests with peers. The 21st century and use of the internet has opened our peer networks up to a global scale, all available within seconds. People in Ontario can share their creations and ideas with someone in England, and simultaneously find another creative idea from someone in Japan. This global sharing network has opened up communication to inspire new ideas, or build upon others ideas.

Lucélia Ribeiro. (June 30, 2008). Child Computers (Digital Image) Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/lupuca/8720604364/

But it also has emphasized the need for creative protection. The internet allows you to access mountains of resources and ideas from other people with the click of a button, but what’s to stop you from claiming the glory of all that hard work? What about your own creative contributions? You spent 3 months getting that song just right, and you see it being used on another person’s blog from Europe, claiming they wrote it. 

Something needs to be in place that is globally recognized to protect the world’s creativity.

DID YOU KNOW?

Everything you create, you have copyrights for!

This means anything picture or artwork you make, any song or poem you write, or sound clip you record, it belongs to you, and you have rights as to how it will be distributed and used. This is done through the Creative Commons. It’s free to sign up, and after a couple of questions, your creations now have a series of rules that others have to follow in order to use your creation.

There are different levels of how your peers can use your material

Attribution

Credit must be given to the creator or ask for their permission to omit.

ShareAlike

Material can be distributed and used, even modified, but it must be under the same terms, otherwise permission is needed.

NonCommercial

Material can be used, modified and distributed as long as it is for non-commercial use. Permission is needed if used for commercial purposes.

NoDerivatives

Material can be used and distributed, but must stay in its original form. Permission is needed to modify.

So when you use an image, video, or worksheet to enhance your teaching, make sure you are respecting the legal rights the creator requests, as you would expect others to treat the material you create and share.