Below you’ll find the answers to some frequently asked questions. If you still have a question, shoot an e-mail to contact@ipreducation.com and we’ll do our best to answer it.
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About Intellectual Property
- What is intellectual property?
- Why is intellectual property an important topic for students?
- What is copyright?
- What is fair use?
- Where can I go to learn more about intellectual property and the rights associated with it?
- For what grade level is the curriculum designed?
- How do I know if these lessons are right for me and my students?
- With what national standards to these lessons align?
- Do I need to use all of the activities for my subject area?
- Some of the curriculum activities reference a student Web site. To which Web site are they referring?
- The computers in our school lab are blocking access to http://www.mybytes.com. What can I do?
- Some of my students are under the age of 13. What kind of personal information do you collect about students on the student Web site?
- Who created this curriculum?
- May I make copies of the curriculum to give to colleagues?
- Why am I asked to register for the curriculum?
- Is the curriculum available in other languages?
- I teach outside the U.S. How can I use this curriculum in my own country?
What is intellectual property?
The term intellectual property encompasses many different creations of the mind: from movies to music to ideas. Intellectual property is sometimes intangible, and yet it always has value. In today’s digital world, recognizing that value and respecting the rights surrounding intellectual property become ever more important. This curriculum focuses specifically on the rights associated with digitally delivered intellectual property (e.g., music, video, software.)
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Why is intellectual property an important topic for students?
Intellectual property is abstract, and therefore pretty easy to ignore. Yet today's students are interacting with intellectual property more than ever before—and primarily in its digital forms. Intellectual property rights are a cornerstone of creative freedom and it's crucial that youth understand and respect those rights at a personal level meaningful to their everyday lives.
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What is copyright?
Copyright consists of a bundle of rights held by the author or developer of an original work of authorship. United States copyright law protects creative works as soon as they are created, and whether or not the creator files a formal copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office.
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What is fair use?
As an educator, you may already be familiar with the term, “fair use.” Fair use refers to the right to reproduce a creative work for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, research, and teaching. The distinction between fair use and copyright infringement can sometimes be unclear. When in doubt, it’s best to ask permission to use or reproduce someone else’s creative work. For more information about fair use, visit: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
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Where can I go to learn more about intellectual property and the rights associated with it?
There is a wealth of information on the Internet about intellectual property and the rights associated with it. The U.S. Copyright Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization are good places to start. Additional information can be found at the Business Software Alliance , the Recording Industry Association of America , the Entertainment Software Association , the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , and Microsoft Web sites.
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For what grade level is the curriculum designed?
The curriculum was designed for students in grades 8 through 10, although it can be easily adapted to accommodate students in grades 6 through 12.
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How do I know if these lessons are right for me and my students?
Each activity within the curriculum includes a descriptive overview and a list of related subject areas that should help you determine whether the activity is right for you and your students. The activities within a unit were designed to be standalone, yet complementary; it is not necessary to implement all activities within a unit.
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With what national standards do these lessons align?
The curriculum aligns with standards from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), the Center for Civic Education, and the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE). See the standards matrix for a table of standards aligned with each activity.
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Do I need to use all of the activities for my subject area?
No, it is not necessary to use all of the curriculum activities to achieve a meaningful learning experience. The activities were designed to be stand-alone yet complementary.
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Some of the curriculum activities reference a student Web site. To which Web site are they referring?
The curriculum activities reference the MyBytes student Web site, among others. The MyBytes Web site is being developed in conjunction with the curriculum. Thus, many of the activities on the student Web site complement the curriculum and vice versa.
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The computers in our school lab are blocking access to http://www.mybytes.com. What can I do?
If you are having trouble accessing the MyBytes Web site from school, please contact your school’s tech administrator. As an alternative, encourage students to use home computers, library computers, or other public computers to access the site.
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Some of my students are under the age of 13. What kind of personal information do you collect about students on the student Web site?
In compliance with COPPA standards, we do not collect any personal information of any kind on any of our student users. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for additional information.
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Who created this curriculum?
Current educators worked in conjunction with Topics Education, a developer of custom curriculum and education outreach campaigns, to concept, design, and write the curriculum. The curriculum and its related Web sites are sponsored by Microsoft.
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May I make copies of the curriculum to give to colleagues?
If used for nonprofit educational purposes, this curriculum falls under the Fair Use guidelines of U.S. copyright law, and you may make copies for your colleagues. However, we recommend directing your colleagues to this Web site instead, so that they have access to all of the materials and resources that complement the curriculum.
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Why am I asked to register for the curriculum?
We ask you to register so that we may keep you informed of curriculum updates, added Web features, student contests and competitions, and other news related to the curriculum. We will never sell your information to third parties. Refer to our Privacy Policy for additional information.
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Is the curriculum available in other languages?
Currently, the curriculum is available only in English.
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I teach outside the U.S. How can I use this curriculum in my own country?
Intellectual property is a topic that is relevant around the globe. Thus, Microsoft is working with its affiliates in other countries to localize the curriculum for international audiences. And we’d love to hear your suggestions. Please contact us at contact@ipreducation.com to tell us more about your country-specific needs.
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