Many kids (and even adults) don't fully understand the power of copyright law. As we all know, the internet makes it extremely easy to use other people's work without permission. But access to all this content also gives us incredible opportunities for creation and critical thinking. Helping your students understand the nuances of copyright law, the doctrine of fair use, public domain, and Creative Commons licenses can support their development as critical, creative digital citizens.
All of us understand the importance of respect and fairness, and copyright at its most basic level can be explained in these terms. With older students, in addition to focusing on what qualifies as plagiarism, you can introduce the complexities of copyright, including the doctrine of fair use, which gives students the right to remix and critique media. Students of any age can feel incredibly validated to learn that the law protects their ideas and creations.
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