This is a very thought provoking article in the NYTimes Magazine this week that grapples with the issues that I suspect we are grappling with in class. I like the comments by Sherry Turkle. I'm curious what others think!
I've been using this site with middle school student for a few years to help teach copyright. It's written in kid-friendly language (middle school) and has lots of resources for teaches who might need a refresher course for themselves. There is an interactive quiz that sparks lots of conversation around intellectual property and fair use. The site is easy to navigate though beware there seem to be a few broken links.
Thanks for sharing this Robyn, I found this site informative and I like that the language is appropriate for middle schoolers. I just took the "Copyright Challenge" quiz and ended up learning a few things! For example, I didn't realize that an essay you write is protected by copyright law as soon as you write it down because that makes it "Fixed in a Tangible Form of Expression." I understand that Fair Use is a defense to copyright infringement but I am still a little unsure about how much of a work you can use before it can no longer be defended by fair use. I guess there is no easy answer to that question because it depends on the situation.
I can definitely see myself using the interactive quiz with my students.
This article describes how a school district enables teachers to teach colleagues the intricacies of certain aspects of technology as part of a professional development plan that calls for "flipped" methodology.
This site was put together by Garth Holman and Mike Pennington, 2 teachers who are doing amazing work with getting the students to own the learning. I saw some of their presentations at the BLC13 Conference this past July. They are mentioned in Alan November's book "Who Owns the Learning" so it was a treat to meet them in person at the BLC Conference. Lots of great information and inspiration on their website.