The Global Classroom Project’ Reader’s Theater Production
(RTP) is an innovative tool that encourages and prompts students to learn about
perceptions and realities of others cultures and to interact with students in
different parts of the world. Technological and creative requirements include Skype,
writing narratives, email, theater production, video recording, discussion,
internet and literature depicting cultures. Were an instructor to use this
interactive tool, the school’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) would need to be
consulted to determine whether the AUP policy is up-to-date enough to address
the type of utilities featured within the tool.
If the AUP is obsolete, incomplete, or too broad, students
have the opportunity to misuse technology without actually violating any written
policy. The AUP and the tool must align with the current level and specificity
of technology that will be expected to be used by students who are engaging in
the tool. In this example, The RTP is centered around dialogue between students
via the internet, so, issues of netiquette, ethical online behavior, and
restricting the exchange of personal information would be concerns that should
be addressed by the AUP. Further, an instructor must be aware of both the
constraints and liberties of their school’s AUP. What are the consequences of
violating rules and to what locations do these rules apply? For example, if
students have private interactions with their international “penpal” friends
outside the program or school, will the AUP consequences be supported?
Finally, one needs to be informed about copyright law in
terms of preparing for both teacher presentations and student projects. According
to the Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for Teachers*, there are federally
mandated stipulations on the amount and type of media that can be legally reproduced
and distributed/presented in a classroom. It’s also safe to assume that all new
and created works are copyrighted and that fair use assumes that specific works
are being referenced for educational or critical purposes (that do not harm the
commercial value of the original). Since the RTP program involves the sharing
of both novel and previously created works, teachers must consult the AUP to
guide students in protecting their own novel works and to ensure their
knowledge of boundaries involving the use of others’ work so that infringement
does not unintentionally occur.
* United States Copyright Office Circular 21; Sections
107, 108, and 110 of the Copyright Act (1976)
