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My Digital Footprint

John Seely Brown

The web has just begun to have an impact on our lives. As fascinated as we are with it today, we’re still seeing it in its early forms… My belief is that not only will the web be as fundamental to society as electrification but that it will be subject to many of the same diffusion and absorption dynamics as that earlier medium.

Understanding Copyright in Education

As students become increasingly skilled creators of digital content they can share with a global audience, it's important for them to understand that Internet resources are not free to take and use as we wish.  However, it's very simple to be copyright compliant.  An understanding of Creative Commons can save heartbreak and embarassment and ensure that on completion, a student may have the joy of sharing their creative work online. 

Creative Commons - educators' resources
Series of materials is designed to provide simple information for teachers and student on what CC is, how to find CC material and the best way to attribute CC material.  .pdf format convenient as handouts.

Smartcopy Copyright
The official Australian site for copyright issues relating to schools and TAFE.  It contains a wealth of information sheets that can be easily printed off and distributed to students and teachers. Education licences such as APRA & AMCOS are clearly explained.  Implications of using Web 2.0 resources such as blogs and wikis is also covered.  This extensive site is of immense value to teacher librarians and others called upon to answer copyright queries.

Smartcopy Creative Commons
The Creative Commons provides an alternative licensing system so that authors, musicians and other creators can grant rights to the public to use their work without payment but still retain control over their copyright material. Schools can use Creative Commons resources such as music, film clips and photographs in their projects and teaching resources free of charge. Information brochure for distriution to students and teachers.

Explaining Creative Commons

Compfight -  Creative Commons images via Flickr
This search engine is ideal for finding copyright free images suitable for classroom use.  Advise students to select the option - "Creative Commons On" prior to commencing their search.

Creative Commons Search
Use this site to link to providers of Creative Commons video, music, media, images and other web resources.  

Plagiarism Checkers 


Plagiarism Checker

Doc Cop

Purdue Online Writing Lab - What is plagiarism?  How to avoid it.

Paper Rater

Plagiarism.org - Plagiarism in the digital age - happening in schools now.

Turnitin ($) - the original plagiarism checker but it's not free.

Write Check ($) - for students only - pay on credit basis.  Not expensive.

iThenticate ($) - popular with business organisations.