1. Fair Use of videos in the classroom
By: Lindsey Barkley
Kennesaw State University
Itec 7445: Multimedia & web design

2. What is copyright? A legal protection given to specific content.
Protects original work including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic
Examples include: poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture.
You do not have to register for work to be protected under copyright any longer.
Copyright does NOT protect the following:
Facts
Ideas
Systems
Methods of operation

3. What is fair use?
Fair use determines if how you are using a video infringes on copyright.
There are four factors that have to be considered to determine fair use:
The purpose and character of use
The nature of original work
The amount or substitutability of the portion used
The effect of use on the value of the work
The purpose and character of use: Educational purposes are generally considered “fair use” but not all.
The nature of the copyrighted work: To determine if the work is published or not. Using a portion of unpublished work can go against fair use.
The amount or substitutability of the portion used: Using a portion of a work is more likely fair use than using a piece of work in its entirety.
The effect of use on the value of the work: It is not fair use if you could have purchased or licensed the copyrighted work.

4. Use of Videos in the classroom – What is allowed and not allowed?
Using a work for educational purposes
Copies may be made to replace lost, damaged, or stolen copies only if replacements are unavailable.
Must be used for face to face instruction
Materials have to be legitimately acquired.
Can embed videos on blog or website as long as the embed option is given.
Can’t change formats to suit needs.
Can’t use for entertainment or reward.
Can’t be copied to distribute to students.

5. Scenario 1
Mrs. Jones is going to show a Magic School Bus episode to her students about the water cycle. This is in direct correlation with Mrs. Jones content standards so she knows it is ok to use. However, Mrs. Jones only has a DVD player and the Media Center copy is on VHS. Mrs. Jones just so happens to have a VHS to DVD converter at her home. She takes the Media Center copy of the VHS home and transfers it to DVD so she can show this in an educational setting. The kids love the episode and ultimately learn the water cycle. Is Mrs. Jones adhering to copyright and fair use laws?

6. Scenario 1 answer
NO! Although Mrs. Jones is using the video for educational purposes, which is allowed, she is NOT allowed to transfer the format from VHS to DVD. She has to obtain a copyrighted DVD version in order to show this in her classroom. Maybe Mrs. Jones can check with the media specialist and obtain a VHS player for her classroom or a DVD copy of the episode she is wishing to show her classroom.

7. Scenario Two
Mr. Smith just finished teaching his students about the Holocaust. His students grasp the concept well and he is so proud of them. In order to reward them he wants to show them a movie. He chooses The Boy in Striped Pajamas to show them as a reward because it relates to the standards. Is he infringing on copyright/fair use?

8. Scenario Two Answer
YES! Mr. Smith IS infringing on copyright/fair use because he is using this movie as a reward instead of instructional purposes. Mr. Smith can’t show the movie as a reward even if it is directly related to the content. IF, he uses bits and pieces of the movie to teach aspects of the Holocaust to his students, then he would be within the boundaries of copyright/fair use.

9. Scenario Three
Mrs. Johnson found a great YouTube video to show her students about the history behind the Jazz Age. She saw the video had an embed option. She took the embed code and embedded the YouTube video directly on her classroom blog. This grants her access to the video when she is teaching Jazz Age to her students. The students loved how Mrs. Johnson tied this video directly into the standards during her teaching. Is Mrs. Johnson allowed to embed a YouTube video on her classroom blog?

10. Scenario Three answer
YES! Mrs. Johnson is allowed to embed a YouTube video on her classroom blog for future use. She used this video in direct correlation with her social studies standards during her instruction which means she has not violated any copyright/fair use guidelines.

11. References
Borovoy, A. E. (2015, December 02). 5-Minute Film Festival: Copyright and Fair Use for Educators. Retrieved October 02, 2017, from copyright-fair-use
Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for Teachers [PDF]. (n.d.).
Copyright in General. (n.d.). Retrieved October 02, 2017, from
University of Minnesota Libraries. (n.d.). Retrieved October 02, 2017, from