A new workshop offered by MRU Library is challenging students to think outside of the box and learn about copyright law in a hands-on environment. Delivered by Taylor Stevens, MRU’s Copyright Advisor, this workshop series will encourage MRU students and staff to learn the ins-and-outs of copyright law and think critically about copyright ethics through play.
The Copyright Dough workshop series will be offered for both MRU students and staff in the Library this winter semester. To register, head to our Event Calendar on the MRU Library website.
Upcoming Events
Copyright Dough for Students
Thursday, March 3, 2022 11:30am - 1:00pm
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Copyright Dough for MRU Employees
Wednesday, March 9, 2022 11:30am - 1:00pm
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
What can students expect when they sign up?
Copyright Dough is a different way of approaching copyright education. Instead of the “typical” lecture-based approach, this workshop is hands-on (literally as you’re molding playdough) and interactive. This approach allows students to discuss and develop a deeper understanding of copyright in a more practical way. It’s also an opportunity to relax, have fun, and be creative in your playdough designs.
How did you go about developing this workshop?
The game Copyright Dough was originally created by Hannah Pyman and Katrine Sundsbo, Information Literacy Coordinator and Scholarly Communications and Research Support Manager, respectively, from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom. The two of them wanted to make this game available to everyone across the world, so they made the materials available under a CC BY 4.0 license, which means all that’s required to use the materials is to attribute the original creators. It was my task to make the Canadian version of this game as the UK’s copyright laws do differ from ours. To learn more about the original game, check out this blog post from Copyright Literacy.
Is this workshop inspired by other work or teaching methods?
I created an adaptation of Hannah Pyman’s and Katrine Sundsbo’s original Copyright Dough game. This adaptation took on a Canadian perspective. However, I’ve always been interested in gamification and the benefits it brings to education.
Why is it important for students to learn about copyright law?
Students are using third party content and creating original work all the time, whether or not they realize it. This isn’t even limited to education - sharing memes and posting user-generated content online also involves copyright law. I believe having an understanding of copyright law now will not only help them in their academic careers, but in their careers post-university as well. Copyright can be complicated as it’s a grey area of the law, but it’s my job to help alleviate that confusion and frustration through education.
How do you think this teaching method will help students learn more effectively?
As a board and video game enthusiast, I believe there are endless benefits to learning through play. It’s engaging, interactive, and allows you to use critical thinking and problem solving skills, all while learning about the topic on a deeper level. And since this workshop is discussion-based, this approach also allows students to teach each other about the content, explore questions, and debate in a safe and respectful environment.
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