Lesson: A Creator’s Responsibilities (6-8)

Introduce

ASK: Can you remember when you last copied, downloaded, or shared some type of creative work? Guide students to think about their everyday sharing of copyrighted work. They might not even be aware that they are using copyrighted work every day. Sample responses:

• Downloaded a video from YouTube
• Bought a song on iTunes
• Cut out a magazine photo and put in my locker

ASK: Can you think of a time when you used someone else’s work in something you made? Guide students to be specific about what work they used, and how they used it. You may also want to ask about whether they acknowledged the sources they used by citing them. Sample responses:

• Used information from a website in a school report
• Used photos I found in Google Image Search for PowerPoint slides
• Used video clips I downloaded from YouTube in a remix video I made

EMPHASIZE to students that they use copyrighted work in their everyday lives in two ways: (1) to use and enjoy as consumers, and (2) to incorporate into their digital media creations (blog, remix, mash-up, etc.). Whether they are just using material for enjoyment, or using it to create a new work, highlight to students that they should be responsible and respectful of other people’s creative work.

Teach 1: Listen to a Young Creator’s Thoughts About Responsibilities

PREVIEW the Key Vocabulary with students. Ask students to listen for these words in the video, which will be discussed afterwards.

SHOW the Respecting Creative Work Student Video Vignette (Nicole’s Story for 6th, Henry’s Story for 7-8).

TELL students:
(Nicole’s Story, 6th) the video is about a real girl who is a writer and shares her writing online.
(Henry’s Story, 7-8): the video is about a real boy who likes to take clips of music and movies and make
them into his own creations.

ASK: Can you think of an example of piracy or plagiarism? Sample responses:

• My older brother has his computer always downloading all this music for free. I think it’s piracy.
• Piracy is those programs that let you “rip” DVDs and movies without buying them.
• Plagiarism would be cheating on a paper for school by copying and pasting stuff from online into it and saying you wrote it.
• Plagiarism is when a student turns in a paper that another student wrote.

POINT OUT to students that there are right and wrong ways to use copyrighted work. People who pirate or plagiarize not only risk getting in trouble at school or with the law, but their behavior is also unethical and disrespectful to creators. Students should always show respect for the creative work they use by acknowledging – or giving credit to – the work they use. Provide an example of a citation (e.g., bibliography of a book).

Teach 2: Reflect on a Creator’s Responsibilities Through Discussion and Case Studies

DIVIDE students into groups of four or five and hand out copies of the Responsibilities for Respecting Creative Work Student Discussion Guide (6th or 7-8 version) to each student. Discuss the Video Discussion Questions with students as a whole group. Refer to the Responsibilities for Respecting Creative Work Student Discussion Guide – Teacher Version (6th or 7-8 version) for guidance about leading the discussion. If there is time, choose one or two of the case studies listed in the Responsibilities for Respecting Creative Work Student Discussion Guide (6th or 7-8 version) and have students read and reflect on how creators can be responsible, using Ask, Acknowledge, Add Value.

Wrap Up & Assess

REFER back to Ask, Acknowledge, Add Value to have students reflect on their responsibilities as creators. Have students write a one-sentence example that explains how they could do each step. Collect their responses to assess their understanding of the lesson objectives.

ASK What is something new you learned that helps you be responsible and respectful toward other people’s creative work?

Extension & Homework

EXTENSION ACTIVITY
Have students break into small groups to develop their own real-life stories of ethical dilemmas about respecting creative work, which should be similar in format to the case studies they read. Students might address dilemmas regarding piracy, plagiarism, file sharing, remixing and mashing, or how to comment constructively on other people’s work. Students then perform their stories of ethical dilemmas in front of the class. The class then discusses solutions to the dilemma portrayed, emphasizing how to be responsible with others’ creative work.

HOMEWORK
Students use the case studies from the Responsibilities for Respecting Creative Work Student Discussion Guide to interview family members. Students read the scenarios aloud and ask the questions to their family. Students then explain the responsibilities creators have to respect other people’s work.