Items to consider...

PowerPoint Presentations | Graphics and Photos | Audio and Video | Documents

As educators, resources that are protect under copyright laws may be used in the classroom with limitations. This means that movies, books, and audio maybe used in the classroom but with limitations on how many copies or how much of the video or audio can be played.

With access to advances in digital technology, video, photos and audio can be placed into applications such as PowerPoint, Flash and more. Using this technology in the classroom is a great but placing this material on the web violates both the Fair Use Act and Copyright Laws.

Here are some links for you read up on Copyrights or the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) or to learn what a Copyright can protect.

These are the URLs:
http://www.copyright.gov/ - Copyright Law
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/ - FAQs
http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html - Fair Use Act
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-protect.html#what_protect - What can copyright protect?

When posting material for the web consider that what may work in the classroom does not always work online. In the classroom, PowerPoint Presentations that use "bullets" have the teacher present to answer questions and elaborate on various points. Whereas, the same presentation online will not be as effective since the instructor is not readily available to respond.

It's best to have a clear and detailed PowerPoint with citations and links to additional resources where your audience can click on for additional information.

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Here are some things to keep in mind when creating material for the web:

1) PowerPoint Presentations:

1.1 - If video clips from sites such as United Streaming, MountainLake PBS, Discovery Channel or even the Discovery School are used, they must be replaced with links to the original website. You must also give a description of what type of video your audience should look for.

1.2 - If you actually have written permission to use copyrighted material, you must place a notice in your presentation that such permission is on file and can be made available for viewing.

1.3 - Video clips that have been created by you, the creator of the PowerPoint, an associate producer of the presentation, a colleague, a student, or someone in the community, copyright information of ownership must be placed in your presentation.

1.4 - If photos and images are being used in a PowerPoint Presentation from FREE websites, cite the websites from where they came from. The same goes for clip art. If you are the owner of the images, photos, graphics and/or clip art, you must place a notice stating ownership.

1.5 - Audio for narration should also have a notice of ownership. Music that is copyrighted must be removed prior to posting unless proof of consent from the original copyright holder can be provided.

1.6 - If you need to have images, photos, clip art, video, audio, animation, graphics, etc., in your PowerPoint, check out the free sources available within PowerPoint or the Microsoft website first. Next, look into the free site on the Net. And finally, look into material that falls under the Creative Commons License.

Creative Commons was created in 2001 by Lawrence Lessig.

The URLS are:
http://creativecommons.org/ - Creative Commons
http://www.lessig.org/blog/ - Lawrence Lessig

Any work that is used that falls under the Creative Commons License must be cited according to its agreement - the fine print, usually found at the bottom of the page or attached to a link.

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2) Graphics and Photos:

2.1 - If you are the photographer of any photos you wish to post on this site, you must provide proof of ownership along with photos.

2.2 - Photos that are to be submitted to this website should be reduced to 72dpi - dot-per-inch (or 72 ppi - pixels-per-inch). Each photo or graphic should have a detailed description along with it. This description will be used as the "Alternative Text" to be used by screen readers for the visually impaired.

2.3 - Graphics created for the web though Photoshop, Illustrator, FireWorks, FreeHand or any other graphic manipulation program, must provide notice of ownership, reduced to 72 dpi/ppi, and have a detailed description of what the graphic is.

Note:
Reducing the resolution of the image do not necessarily mean a reduction in size. The images submitted will be re-sized accordingly to fit this websites format as best as possible.

2.4 - If you are the photographer or the graphic artist who has designed original work to be posted on this website, you may want to consider protecting your artwork by visiting the Creative Commons website. There you will find several licenses which you can read through to see which one best suits your needs.

2.5 - Prior to photographing children, Release Forms / Consent Forms must be filled out by Parents and/or Legal Guardians and kept on files. Release Forms must clearly state what the purpose of the photos will be and where will those photos be viewed. (i.e.: In a PowerPoint Presentation; On the Web; In a Video; etc.) A notice must appear that states that documentation is on file and available for viewing.

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3) Audio and Video:

Sometimes video may be used in the classroom to help facilitate discussion and provoke critcal thinking. The sources may come from a DVD, VHS, CD Rom, or other forms of media. These forms of media are protected under Copyright Law and because most of these are digital in nature, we now have the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

3.1 - If you are the creator of music you wish to post on this site, there must be a declaration or notice of ownership.

3.2 - Music used for "showcase" purposes, should not be longer than 30-seconds in length. This method allows the listener a mere "sample" of the actual work, thereby protecting you - the composer of the piece.

3.3 - Videos that have been created by you must also have a notice that states ownership. All video clips should be saved as an AVI file and submitted on a CD or DVD. Videos will be converted into a Flash file which will compress the video for the Internet. A detailed synopsis or any other "printable" material that would help to understand what the video is and what it is about should accompany your video.

If you feel confident enough with Flash technology and would like to convert your own videos, please do so and submit the file with the .SWF extension.

Note:
You may want to look into the Creative Commons License to protect your audio and/or video work.

Useful links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMCA - What is the DMCA?
http://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf - The DMCA
http://www.copyright.gov/resces.html - Copyright Resources
http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/edwin.vega/copyright_information.htm - Additional Resources

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4) Documents:

If you have created documents and would like to submit them, please send as .RTF files not .DOC files (RTF means Rich Text Format. These files can be read by Microsoft Word, Microsoft Works and WordPerfect regardless of the platform.) You may also submit PDF versions of your documents.

4.1 - Citations to work you have referred to must appear on your document.

Note:
To protect your Intellectual Property, there is useful information at the World Intellectual Property Organization webite. You can also go to the Creative Commons website and acquire a license.

4.2 - Notice of ownership must appear on all documentation submissions.

Useful links:
http://www.wipo.int/portal/index.html.en - World Intellectual Property Organization
http://creativecommons.org/ - Creative Commons

Providing that these guidelines are met, please send your submissions to the NCTRC at the address below.

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