COPYRIGHT
Instructors need to watch out for copyright and fair use issues. A copyright is a property right attached to an original work of art
or literature. Fair use specifically allows use of copy-righted materials for educational purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, and research. It is imperative that students and instructor be aware of copyright laws in order to avoid potential moral and legal issues. The TEACH Act offers guidelines related to using multimedia for online courses; laws are very specific and should be read and understood. Copyright issues should be addressed in the syllabus so that students are aware from the beginning
of the course.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism must also be addressed. Students should be informed of proper citation with guidance from the institution and course instructors. Depending on the format used by the college or university, students should be shown where to find the necessary format and instructions. Websites and often the institution’s resources guide students with directions and a good reference while writing papers and other assignments. It’s better to be safe than sorry!