If this is your first time producing an online course, you probably have been told something rather frustrating: You can’t use all of those perfect images that you found on Google, and subsequently placed in your PowerPoint slides!  This is quite confusing, as you though that you were protected under that warm and fuzzy blanket known as “Fair Use.”  The problem with fair use, in the online environment, is that the distribution model has changed.  Instead of showing material to a single group of students one time – you now have a video, PowerPoint presentation, or some combination that is being published over the web for multiple classes, and quite possibly a much wider audience than the students enrolled in your course.  For at least a brief moment you might wonder if you could just ignore copyright, and only find new materials if you get caught.  This is a very dangerous game to play.  You are representing a University, and it is a personal and professional nightmare to be caught stealing media.

The Good News:  Ohio State has resources to help you to find out if your images are copyright free “in the public domain” and can help point you towards resources that will lead you to acceptable free images/media.

Here is a link to OSU’s Copyright Services: http://library.osu.edu/projects-initiatives/copyright-resources-center/

Here is a Video on Fair Use: http://go.osu.edu/fairuse

Here is a Checklist to Determine Fair Use: http://hsl.osu.edu/copyright/fair-use-checklist

Here are a few copyright free image banks that they suggest:

1. American Memory collection: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html

2. Wikimedia Commons: http://commons.wikimedia.org/

3. Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/

4. Flickr Commons: https://www.flickr.com/commons/

5. Welcome Images (historical images): http://wellcomeimages.org/

Here is a really cool tool that allows you to upload any image, and it will tell you were you can locate that image on the web to find information about it: https://www.tineye.com/search

I would highly recommend this book for anyone.  I am including it on this blog because I think it can help online educators as they deal with the stress of learning a new skill, and in working with other creatives/educators in accomplishing their video/multimedia projects.

Find it on Amazon

Book Overview: In today’s fast-paced world of competitive workplaces and turbulent economic conditions, each of us is searching for effective tools that can help us to manage, adapt, and strike out ahead of the pack. By now, emotional intelligence (EQ) needs little introduction—it’s no secret that EQ is critical to your success. But knowing what EQ is and knowing how to use it to improve your life are two very different things.

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 delivers a step-by-step program for increasing your EQ via four, core EQ skills that enable you to achieve your fullest potential:

1) Self-Awareness
2) Self-Management
3) Social Awareness
4) Relationship Management

Here’s what people are saying about it:
“Emotional Intelligence 2.0 succinctly explains how to deal with emotions creatively and employ our intelligence in a beneficial way.”
—The Dalai Lama
“A fast read with compelling anecdotes and good context in which to understand and improve.”
—Newsweek
“Gives abundant, practical findings and insights with emphasis on how to develop EQ. Research shows convincingly that EQ is more important than IQ.”
–Stephen R. Covey, author, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
“This book can drastically change the way you think about success…read it twice.”
–Patrick Lencioni, author, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Recently I took the position of Educational Technology Specialist with The College of Education and Human Ecology.  For this reason my future posts will incorporate material from both The Office of Distance Education & eLearning and The College of Education and Human Ecology.  My primary blog focus will remain the same “Video Tips and Tricks for The Online Educator.”