Managing The Legal Risks Of High-Tech Classrooms

Abstract

When professors and students utilize the Internet, course web pages, and other online learning tools, much of the material that they make use of is protected by copyright law. A blend of case law and legislation governs the use of online materials and how technology can be used in the classroom and in school-related activities, often creating confusion for content users. Educators and students alike need to be familiar with applicable laws and need to understand the implications of common activities such as using technology in the classroom, conducting research on the Internet, and using multi-media in classroom presentations and student projects. Canadian copyright law is currently undergoing a much-needed process of reform, in order to bring Canadian copyright law in line with the laws of the rest of the world, and to keep up with rapidly changing technology that has changed the way people use copyrighted materials. This paper will focus on the legalities surrounding the use of technology and digital media in educational settings. It will provide guidelines for Canadian educators to ensure that their use of information technology and digital materials in the classroom is both appropriate and acceptable, and will propose strategies to manage those risks.