Reflection 2: Open Licensing, Copyright, and Digital Creation in Week 5
This week in EDCI 136, our learning focused on open licensing, copyright, and the importance of making knowledge accessible. Before this week, I had never really thought too much about any of these topics, but after watching the lectures with Cable Green and Inba Kehoe, I now have a better understanding of their significance and am very interested in learning more about them.
Cable Green’s Lecture:
Cable Green’s lecture on Open Licensing and Open Educational Resources was one of the most interesting things I have learned in this course so far. One of the key takeaways for me was the idea that all knowledge about a problem needs to be open in order to solve it and to ensure everyone is aware of its significance. He gave the example of climate change and COVID-19, where having access to scientific data and research is crucial for people to learn and make informed decisions. This really made me question how much valuable information is locked behind paywalls today and how that could slow down progress in solving major global issues.
Another concept that stood out to me from his lecture was Creative Commons licensing. I enjoyed learning that you can give your own photos the rights to be used on different platforms, such as calendars. The idea of open licensing gives people the ability to retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute (the 5Rs), which makes knowledge more accessible and adaptable for different purposes. This made me realize that throughout all of elementary and high school, whenever I made a PowerPoint presentation for school, I had never thought about whether I had permission to use the photos I was using or if I was just fully stealing their work without permission. I was also surprised that our teachers had never mentioned this to us before.
Inba Kehoe’s Lecture:
The second lecture this week was with Inba Kehoe from UVic Libraries, who spoke about Copyright, Fair Dealing, and Licenses. I found this really useful, especially since I create content for my social media. One key thing I learned was that anything you create is automatically copyrighted to you, but if you want to go further, you can add a copyright symbol, a date, and even a title. It was also interesting to hear about how Canadian copyright law allows creators to sell their copyrights but not their moral rights, meaning that even if you sell your work, you are still recognized as the original creator.
One of the most surprising things I learned was that UVic can track who downloads copyrighted content through IP addresses. I knew that universities could monitor this kind of activity, and it made me more aware of the risks of using copyrighted material without permission. Another big takeaway for me was the importance of giving credit when using someone else’s work. If I want credit for my own work, then it’s only fair that I also properly cite the work of others.
Assignment 1: Deeper Dive Inquiry:
Last week, I submitted my plan for the Deeper Dive Inquiry assignment. I met with my pod, and we chose to learn more about video editing. Since we all have different interests, we will be making our own videos, but we will support each other’s learning and provide feedback. My personal focus will be on learning how to use DaVinci Resolve for color grading and technical editing skills. To show my learning, I plan to create a short, two-minute video from a ski trip I went on with my friends earlier this year. This will be a great way to practice editing while working on something I am passionate about.
Final Thoughts:
This week’s learning on open licensing, copyright, and fair dealing has given me a lot to think about when it comes to sharing and accessing information online. I now have a better understanding of how copyright works and why it’s important to respect creators’ rights. At the same time, learning about OER and Creative Commons made me realize how beneficial it can be to make knowledge more open and accessible. Although I feel like I have learned a lot, I know I have barely scratched the surface of what I can learn about these topics, so I am excited to continue exploring them in the future. As I start working on my video project, I will keep these concepts in mind, making sure to credit sources properly and explore the potential of open licensing in my own digital creations.