Avoiding Copyright Issues

For nearly five years now, my students have created an online social studies magazine called Social Voice. The title is a bit edgy, even Marxist, but it sums up the goal in simple language. I want students to express their individual and collective voice on all things social studies. At the same time, I want them to listen, to explore the silence, to ask inquisitive questions. I'm not sure where this fits in with the world of standardized testing. Call me crazy, but I'd rather teach humans than data.

In the process of creating our eZine, we began to ask whether our photographs were violating copyright. After a class discussion, students explored options of using both public domain photographs and Creative Commons licensed images. Now, when students create documentaries, websites, presentations or anything else, they are required to follow copyright rules. The following are some of the sites that students have been using.

Public Domain Pictures: I'm not crazy about this site, because it can be difficult to find the exact license for pics. Plus, they seem to be real "stock pictures" and that can make things feel too packaged. However, some students have liked this site.

Flickr Creative Commons: I love the blend of artistic styles as well as how easy it is to search and to find the exact licensing details. This is the site we use most often our our websites.

Wikimedia Commons: Many of the pictures we can't get at Flickr seem to be available on Wikimedia Commons. They seem to do a great job guaranteeing that photos aren't violating copyright.

National Archives: Being a social studies class, we often need historical photos. Within the National Archives, there are many public domain pictures that suit our purpose.

Library of Congress: Similar to National Archives, but with more pictures.

Documenting America: This project is part of the Library of Congress.

ARS Gallery: Whenever we need decent "scenery" pictures, the ARS has free public domain photographs that work really well.

Morguefile: I love the artistic, indy feel of this site. It's become one of my favorites.