Finding Information Activity 8

Activity 8: Copying ideas

Think about questions: 30 mins
Group interaction: 45 mins

1 hr 15 mins

The purpose of this activity is to make the learners aware of the issue of intellectual copyright.

Before you do this activity, we recommend that you

Copying ideas

Use your e-diary to make initial comments about copyright and bibliographies.

If you take the keys of a stranger's car and drive off with it, then tell everyone that it is yours, is that right or wrong?
If you pick up someone's jersey and wear it, then tell everyone that it is yours, is that right or wrong?
If you pick up a picture that a friend is drawing, then pretend that you drew it, is that right or wrong?
If you copy a stranger's ideas and thoughts, then pretend they were yours, is that right or wrong?
Is it right or wrong if you take someone else's information and copy it for your class, without saying where it came from?
Does copyright mean I have the right to copy or does it mean something else?

Write e-mail to your group and discuss the above questions with them. Are all of those actions wrong or are some more wrong than others? Is there a difference between the way you think about personal property and intellectual property? What is the law when using intellectual property? Do the fair use guidelines help you as an educator?

Use your e-diary to make closing comments about this activity.

Before moving on to the last optional activity, Activity 9, we suggest that you read Solving the problem of Plagiarism.

Finding Information