Just because it has a web address....

How do you know a website is valid, appropriate and dependable? For educators, students, professionals and anyone else using the web to gather information or research, it is important to accurately evaluate the websites you read. Websites can be tremendous sources of knowledge but, on some occasions, can be misleading, out-of-date or even dangerous. How can you (or your students) accurately evaluate a website?

Three quick tips:
First, check the author/sponsor of the site. Is it clearly shown and stated? Is the author qualified to write on the topic? Are you familiar with the organization? Can you check its reputation?

Second, check for references and links. Serious academic work has references included or attached. Attached references will give you a good idea about the amount of time, effort and research that was poured into the source you are using.

Last, check your source for bias and/or lack of updates. The web contains oceans of resources-- there is little need to use sites that have substantial bias in the form of advertisement or tone. In addition, you should seek out sites with recent updates or publication.

Keep these tips in mind when you search and surf!

Fair Use & Copyright: Teachers beware...

Good teachers find anything and everything they can use to promote learning in their classrooms. The roots of lessons, reflections and teachable moments come from any number of sources; television, movies, newspapers, poems, articles, photographs, advertisements and the web just to name a few. As information continues to flow more freely and a vast variety of resources become available to teachers and their students, we all need to be reminded to take a step back and think about the important (and often challenging) laws of fair use and copyright. Not convinced? Penalties for infringement in even the simplest of cases can run you (and potentially your school system) up to $30,000. Serious and flagrant infringement could result in fines almost ten times higher and some time behind bars. Now you're listening...

Although many of us have a vague idea about the rules and regulations of copyright and fair use, I want to outline a few points I found to be of interest that I was not previously aware of. First, as soon as you create a work, its yours. The law doesn't require you to use the tiny circled c, display a copyright disclaimer or even officially give notice to anyone that your work should, could or would be protected. Next, brevity is crucual. For example, do not borrow more than one picture, chart or diagram from any given book. Some articles and poems are too short to borrow even a series of words. Be careful to check the guidelines especially if you are interested in an excepert of any substantial length. Finally, be spontaneous! The copies must be made of your own volition-- not by recommendation from administrators or the DOE and the work must be one that will lose its effectiveness if you delay its use until permission is granted.

Teachers beware!