Surfing The Information Highway
Rules For The Ride ©2003
 
Grade Level: 5-12
Learner Outcomes:
 
  • The student will describe "copyright"
  • The student will describe "fair use"
  • The student will describe "public domain"
  • The student will list or describe the five rights of a copyright owner
  • The student will list information or works on the Internet that are protected by copyright law
  • The student will list information or works on the Internet considered  public domain
  • The student will discuss the copyright and plagiarism guidelines for students
  • The student will search the Internet for information on copyright, fair use, and public domain
 
Subjects: 
  • Language Arts
  • Technology
 
Duration of Lesson: 

Two 45 minute class periods
 
Materials:      U.S. Code Section 102
     U.S. Code Section 106
     U.S. Code Section 107
     Student Guidelines
     Test Answers

 
Technology Tools/Courseware:
  • Computer with Internet Access
 
Teacher Notes:
  • Distribute lesson handouts
  • Go through Internet search process
  • Go over enrichment activities
 
Enrichment Activities:
  • Write a report on why copyright is important or not important
  • Brainstorm in small groups and write down reasons why you should or should not get permission to use copyrighted material
  • Use the Internet to examine 10 Big Myths  about copyrights
 
Procedures:
 
  • Discuss and write a definition of "copyright" on the board
  • A United States law which extends protection to a copyright holder which requires the permission of the holder to reproduce, distribute, adapt, publicly perform and display the original work.
  • Distribute to each student a copy of  the current copyright law of the United States and discuss the following:
  • Section 102(a) of the law:
  • Copyright protection subsists . . . in original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed, from which they can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or device. These works include: 
    1. literary works 
    2. musical works, including any accompanying words 
    3. dramatic works, including any accompanying music
    4. pantomimes and choreographic works
    5. pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
    6. motion pictures and other audiovisual works
    7. sound recordings
    8. architectural works
  • Section 106 of the law:
  • Exclusive rights in copyrighted works, the owner of the copyright has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize any of  the following:
    1. to reproduce the copyrighted work in copies or phono-records
    2. to prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work
    3. to distribute copies or phono-records of the copyrighted work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending
    4. in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works, to perform the copyrighted work publicly
    5. in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work, to display the copyrighted work publicly; and
    6. in the case of sound recordings, to perform the copyrighted work publicly by means of a  digital audio transmission
  •  Discuss and write a definition of "fair use" on the board
  • The fair use of a copyrighted work allows certain information or materials to be used for educational or nonprofit purposes without permission or monetary fees and balances the exclusive protection of copyright law.
  • Four factors must be considered in determining whether or not the use of copyrighted work is fair:
    1. Purposes and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes
    2. Nature of the copyrighted work 
    3. the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
    4. the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work 
  • Discuss and write a definition of  "public domain" on the board
  • A collection of works such as older materials or government documents or works not explicitly protected by copyright that may be used without permission. Public domain works include those with the following characteristics:
    1.       Ideas
    2.       Facts
    3.       Titles
    4.       Names
    5.       Short phrases
    6.       Blank forms
  • List information or works on the Internet protected by copyright
    1. Text material
    2. Software
    3. Graphics
    4. Illustrations and photographs
    5. Poems
    6. Music, lyrics, and music video
    7. News stories
    8. Novels
    9. Screenplays
    10. Email
 
Modifications:
  • Each individual student's IEP will determine modifications/accommodations to be made.
 
Evaluation/Assessment:  
West Virginia Standards:
 
  • Language Arts - Writing 5.52  5.53  5.54  5.55  5.56  5.57  5.58  5.59  5.60  5.61 6.52  6.53  6.54  6.55 6.56  6.57  6.58  6.59  6.60  6.61  6.62  6.63 7.51  7.52  7.53 7.54  7.55 7.56  7.57 7.58  8.52  8.53  8.54  8.55  8.56  8.57  8.58
  • Computer/Technology  5.179  5.186  5.187  6.153  6.158  6.160  6.161  7.163  7.166 7.167  7.169  7.170  8.145  8.148  8.153  8.155
 
National Standards:

Technology 
Standard 1 Level III

  • Connects via modem to other computer users via the internet, an on-line service, or bulletin board system
  • Knows the characteristics and uses of computer software programs
  • Knows examples of copyright violations and computer fraud (e.g., computer hacking, computer piracy, intentional virus setting, invasion of privacy) and possible penalties (e.g., large fines, jail sentences)


Language Arts

Standard 1 Level III Writing
Writes expository compositions (e.g., states a thesis or purpose; presents information that reflects knowledge about the topic of the report; organizes and presents information in a logical manner, including an introduction and conclusion; uses own words to develop ideas; uses common expository structures and features, such as compare/contrast or problem/solution)
    Standard 4 Level III
     
      Gathers and uses information for research purposes
      Uses card catalogs and computer databases to locate sources for research topics
      Determines the appropriateness of an information source for a research topic


    Standard 7 Level III
     

      Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts
      Uses new information to adjust and extend personal knowledge base
 
Job/Career Clusters:
  • Fine Arts and Humanities
  • Engineering and Technical
 
References: 
Unit Lessons:
Lesson 1:  Surfing The Information Highway
Lesson 2:  Acceptable Use Policy
Lesson 3:  Netiquette
Lesson 4:  Copyright Law
Lesson 5:  Internet Safety

Phase 9 Project
Gilbert Middle School
Gilbert High School
Mingo County
West Virginia
Country Roads, Take Us Home!
Gordon Carter**Karen White**Linda Cline
 
 

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