Create 3.1.2 – Fair Use and the TEACH Act Quest

Fair Use and TEACH Act 

• How does an understanding of Fair Use affect one’s role as an online instructor?

In an online teaching environment, the instructor will be distributing materials online, usually to a large group of individuals. In doing so, they must be diligent to employ the four prong test for Fair Use, perhaps even more so than a more traditional, face-to-face instructor that will usually have access to textbooks and other tangible resources. When considering the materials for an online course, the instructor must first look at the materials that align to curricular goals, then how to legally obtain those materials under Fair Use. Controls have to be in place in the course itself as well, governing how students share and disseminate materials. 

• How do Fair Use and the TEACH Act correlate to the delivery of reliable content?

Although Fair Use applies to anyone, TEACH relates specifically to how teachers can access and utilize materials. For the TEACH Act, teachers have several other criteria that must be met to properly use materials. TEACH allows online instructors to bring in materials for their students, in that specific class, for one time use. The TEACH Act, opens up more opportunities for students to engage with more diverse content. Ultimately though, if Fair Use standards are met, teachers do not have to concern themselves with moving into the standards for TEACH. These standards combined allows teachers to use the most up to date and engaging materials with their students in an online teaching environment. 

https://www.openteachertraining.org/blog/quest/create-3-1-2/