Copyright and the Internet
WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) has been a major force in sponsoring conventions and discussions for copyright and intellectual property. In response to new economic, social, cultural and technological developments, two new treaties on copyright were agreed at a WIPO conference in Geneva in December 1996. The two treaties supplement the Berne and Rome conventions by introducing new provisions and clarifying the interpretation of existing provisions in response to the changing circumstances of world telecommunications. WIPO provides an extensive resource site of their work and the treaties.
Following the 1996 convention, several countries then crafted their own versions of copyright acts that encompassed many of the digital issues raised at the convention. For example, the United States began work on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which was signed into law in 1998.
Additional information about specific issues generated by the DMCA legislation
can be found at:
http://www.educause.edu/issues/dmca.html
http://www.ala.org/oitp/copyr/index.html
http://www.aallnet.org/prodev/event_millenium.asp
http://www.arl.org/dmca/video.html
Intellectual Property Law
For more information about Intellectual Property laws and practices around the
world, an excellent Web resource is provided by Phillips
Ormonde and Fitzpatrick. Also, the Intellectual
Property Law Server provides several case law examples.
Keeping Up with Technology Changes
Windows Magazine. This
periodical covers much more than just Windows, although its primary focus is
on operating systems and software issues. Windows Magazine provides the latest
news on developments in operating systems, as well as tips for getting the best
performance from your Windows PC. You can find reviews of applications and utilities,
as well as information on hardware.
MacWorld. This is one
of the few magazines devoted exclusively to Macintosh computer users. MacWorld
has a strong focus on graphics and desktop publishing issues, but pays plenty
of attention to the world of Macintosh software and the Mac OS. Hardware reviews
abound, and the magazine provides tips for getting the most from your Mac.
Computer Shopper.
This is another popular magazine that recently underwent a major format revision.
Computer Shopper focuses primarily on hardware, and on helping readers get the
best deals on computer and communications equipment. There are lots of reviews,
information about upgrading systems of all types, and (of course) advertisements.
CS may be one of the most ad-heavy magazines out there, but if you are interested
in hardware, finding a good deal, or building your own PC, it's a good resource.
Byte. Byte has long been considered
a magazine for the advanced computer user, such as IS managers, programmers,
and database administrators. If you want a peek into higher-level technology
issues, this is a good place to go. Like most tech magazines, Byte also offers
product reviews and a great deal of opinion.
Wired. Wired magazine appeared
not long after the World Wide Web came into prominence, and is required reading
among "hip" computer users. Wired focuses on cutting-edge technologies,
especially those that tie into the Internet or just seem cool. One unique aspect
of Wired is its emphasis on the sociological issues surrounding technology.
The editors do a great deal of prognosticating, some of which is daring, and
much of which is humorously off the mark. Wired is famous for giving readers
an insider's view of high-tech companies.
In addition to the general computing magazines listed above, there are numerous journals for those interested in researching Web-based teaching and learning practices and experiences. A listing of some of the well-respected, peer-reviewed, print-based journals is below. Where Web links for information are available, they have been indicated.
American Journal
of Distance Education
Distance
Education: An International Journal
Educational Technology Research and Development (ETR&D)
EDUCAUSE Quarterly
International
Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning (IJCEELLL)
International Journal
of Educational Technology
International
Journal of Educational Telecommunications
Journal
of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia (JEMH)
Journal of Interactive
Learning Research (JILR)
Journal
of Technology and Teacher Education (JTATE)
T here are a number of Websites that provide an annotated bibliography of journals,
newsletters, and magazines in the field along with links to associated pages.
Three of these sites are:
http://Webster.commnet.edu/HP/pages/darling/journals.htm
http://olt-bta.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/info/eljoue.html
http://ericir.syr.edu/ithome/edutech.htm
Online Resources - Magazines and journals are a good way to get news
and information, but they also have drawbacks. First, they can be expensive.
Second, if you don't take time to read them, they go to waste. Third, they pile
up fast. For those reasons and others, you may prefer to get a daily dose of
technology news delivered to your desktop, via the Internet. Of course, there
are many times more Web sites than magazines, but if you are selective, you
can get just the amount and type of information you need. Here are some tips
for keeping up with technology through online resources.
Create a personalized start page. Using a "portal" Web
site, such as Microsoft Network,
Yahoo!, Snap
, and others, you can set up a custom start page that opens each time you launch
your browser. Portal sites allow you to add features to your start page, such
as updated weather, movie listings, and news. Depending on the portal you use,
you may be able to select a "computer" or "technology" option
that delivers tech-related news headlines to your desktop. Some sites allow
you to set parameters for your news, as well. For example, you may be able to
set your start page to display up-to-the-minute news reports about specific
subjects, such as e-learning, wireless communications, or technology debates
in Higher Education.
Use a good search engine. Nearly all search engines post categorized
news stories on their home pages and update them several times each day. Simply
visit your favorite search engine and check the headlines. For news related
specifically to computers and technology, click the "Computers" or
"Computers and Internet" link. If you want to search the Web for other
articles, start your search from the "Computers" page; that will narrow
your search results by focusing on computer-related indexes. Many users set
up a search engine as their start page; many search engines now offer all the
features of a portal site, enabling you to customize your start page and access
advanced search tools the instant you launch your browser.
Find a good online dictionary. If you come across a new computer-related
term, you can probably find a definition on the Internet. Popular Web-based
technology dictionaries include PC
Webopedia , The
Digital Diva , and SmartComputing.
Subscribe to a newsletter. Most of the online magazines (listed
in the preceding section) offer free online newsletters. To register for a free
newsletter, visit the magazine's Web site and click the link that lets you subscribe.
You will need to provide your e-mail address. Some sites let you customize your
newsletter by specifying your particular interests. Be careful not to subscribe
to too many newsletters, however, or you will find yourself inundated with information.
Also, be sure to read the site's privacy policies and make sure your e-mail
address won't be given out or sold to marketers; otherwise you may receive a
lot of junk mail.
Subscribe to a list-serve specific to Online Education issues.
DEOS-L is such a list-serve provided by Pennsylvania State University. DEOS-L
has been (and continues to be) a very active moderated listserv for the past
ten years. It facilitates discussion of current issues in distance education
and now serves over 5,000 subscribers in 80 countries. Discussions on DEOS-L
include: current controversies, new speculations, and topical issues; research
inquiries and requests for assistance; professional networking; announcements
of conferences and job opportunities. You can join
the list at their website.
Join a newsgroup. There are hundreds of Internet newsgroups devoted
to computing and technology issues. To find them, launch your newsreader and
search for newsgroups with "comp" in their name (such as comp.edu
or comp.lang.javascript). In a newsgroup, you can join a discussion about a
specific topic or simply read other people's postings. Be aware, however, that
some newsgroups are notorious sources of rumors and misinformation. Watch a
newsgroup for a while before deciding whether it is a credible source of information.
Better yet, look for newsgroups that are moderated.
Online Journals - There are a number of online journals that also relate to
Web-based education issues. A listing of some of the popular sites is below.
Asynchronous Learning Networks
(ALN)
Canadian Journal of Distance
Education (CADE)
European Journal of Open
and Distance Learning Interactions
International Review of Research
in Open and Distance Learning (IRRODL)
Journal
of Distance Learning Administration
Online
Chronicle of Distance Education and Communication
The Technology Source
Movement Toward Standardization
Many countries around the world are funding large scale projects to enhance accessibility. For example, the European Commission has developed its eEurope Action Plan. The following key elements are expected to be in place by 2002:
The movement toward standardization of datasets and thus easier sharing of
content and activity objects will increase. Already two key standards groups
have their first versions accepted by international representatives from many
educational institutions.
IMS -The IMS (International Meta-data
Specification) consortium has been working for the past decade on open specifications
for the technical building blocks of online learning. They have worked with
thousands of educational institutions around the world to create a comprehensive
approach and focus on infrastructure. In 2000 the technical board unanimously
approved Version 1.0 of the IMS Content Packaging Specification and the IMS
Question and Test Interoperability Specification, as well as Version 1.1 of
the IMS Learning Resources Meta-data Specification.
SCORM
- SCORM is a set of specifications and guidelines that facilitate the development
of interoperable, reusable, and accessible content. This allows for easier moving
of learning content from one management system to another (e.g., from WebCT
to Blackboard or to a proprietary system using SCORM) or to reuse or integrate
content. After considerable vetting and verification, SCORM Version 1.1 was
released in January of 2001. Proponents state that studies have shown that the
use of interoperable objects reduces costs of instruction development and delivery
by 30%-60%. Already, several course tool vendors have adopted the specifications.
EML - Educational Modelling
Language is an expansion of the IMS standards to specifically include metatags
and specifications that relate to educational needs. This might adopt tags such
as "class," "student," "teacher," etc. in order
to better categorize objects in the educational arena. The EML standards committee
has been working for approximately 2 years and there are several open-source,
learning object-driven initiatives currently being developed using this new
standard.