Images and Copyright

Over the years, I have seen many teachers ask their students to search Google for images and that makes me nervous, because even the most mundane search can turn up pictures that are inappropriate. Even though there is a filter on our Internet access, it is not capable of blocking all inappropriate images and websites. It does a good job, but sometimes things get through that shouldn't. It also is interesting to see how many students think Google is the source of the images they find, when in reality, Google is actually searching the web for images posted on other websites.

It is good to know a handful of websites with images across the curriculum for students (and you) to use for projects. *Remember when using images to follow the 'terms of use' of the website. Even though a site might say its images are "royalty-free" or "public domain," you might still be required to cite your source, or they might have other restrictions.

Often, we are in such a rush as educators that we don't think of copyright rules and apply them to our own work, but we should. It is so important to model the behavior of citing sources in our own work that we display for students. If we are models of the behavior we expect from our students, I think it helps them see the importance. Copying text and images from the web is so quick and easy, but it isn't right to take that information without letting people know the source.

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Clipart & Photo Sites:

Clker.com
(royalty free clipart and vector images in the public domain)

Discovery Education Clipart Gallery
(here are their terms of use)

EduPic.net
(free images for teachers and students to use in their work without permission; images across the curriculum)

Library of Congress: Prints and Photographs Reading Room
(no known restrictions on using these pictures, just cite the source)

Microsoft Office Clipart Online
(download images and save them to your computer so you can insert them into ActivInspire, Word, PowerPoint.....)

Public Domain Clipart
(this site allows you to use the images without citing your source)

Pics4Learning.com
(permission has been granted for teachers and students to use all of the images donated to the Pics4Learning collection)

Do you have a favorite copyright-friendly website you use to search for images? Share it with us!

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If you still choose to have your students (even middle and high school students) use Google to search the web for images, please consider having them use the Advanced Image Search feature where they can increase the SafeSearch Filter. They can also search for images Labeled for Reuse:


(click for larger image)

This isn't a perfect solution, but it can reduce the possibility of finding inappropriate images and increase the chances that they will find images that are copyright-friendly. Again, I would advise against having students use Google Image Search (or any other search engine), but if you do, this can help.

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Instead of having students search for images, you could save images the students will need for their project in a folder and give students access to it on a shared network drive (i.e., the M drive). Or you could save shortcuts to web resources with images students can use for their work on a shared network drive. Then you can make sure that the images are copyright-friendly.

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Not sure how to know if something is copyright-friendly? Learn more about Copyright and Fair Use Laws. If you aren't sure about something associated with copyright, ask your Library-Media Specialist. They're very knowledgeable about that stuff!

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When students have worked hard to create their own unique work that they post online (i.e., a podcast, image, etc.), let them copyright it. They can do that by using the resources in Creative Commons. It's a great way to help students see the value in copyright. Use the wizard to walk through the process of copyrighting work with students. It's very easy to use!