Interactive Learning Guide to Help Faculty Make Sense of Copyright Laws

Structured as a subway map, the interactive guide asks faculty a series of questions related to the nature of the copyrighted works they want to use and the methods in which they plan to use them. As each question is answered, the faculty progress through the virtual subway system, learning important copyright rules that apply to their specific situations. At the “final stop,” faculty are provided with a list of guidelines for using the copyrighted media.

“This guide is a valuable tool that enables faculty to obtain useful, practical advice on copyright issues they may face without confronting the daunting complexities of the copyright law itself,” said John Dugan, legal counsel for Baruch College.

While U.S. copyright law has traditionally given special dispensation to teachers displaying and performing copyrighted media in the course of face-to-face teaching, copyright compliancy has become an increasingly complicated legal issue as more and more media are delivered to students online.

Baruch’s Assistant Vice President for Technology Arthur Downing, who initiated the project, said, “We are responding to the needs of academic institutions for a tool that will help and encourage faculty to use media in their courses. This is especially crucial since higher education is increasingly utilizing technology and online delivery components to augment classroom interaction.”

Downing also noted that, while the new learning resource is based on Baruch College and The City University of New York copyright guidelines, these guidelines are common to many academic institutions and thus applicable for universities across the nation. He further emphasized the need to “continuously enhance this resource with the help of the educational community.”

“As Baruch alumni, it was great for our company to work together with the college on a project where we applied our learning and development expertise to benefit its faculty and the broader educational community,” said Kognito’s Director of Business Development Ron Goldman.

This interactive guide is available for free at: (www.baruch.cuny.edu/tutorials/copyright)

About Kognito Solutions
Kognito Solutions LLC applies the latest empirically-based research in human cognition and learning principles to help organization achieve their learning and training goals in an effective and measurable ways. Comprised of learning experts with prestigious academic credentials in learning and communication, it develops interactive simulations, courses, and in-depth case-study formats utilizing a learner-centered experiential (“learn-by-doing”) approach that maximizes learning performance and retention rates. Clients include Fortune Global 500 companies, not-for-profit organizations, and leading academic institutions.