OAS Standard: I.VA.P.2.2 Production
Digital Citizenship: 1.2.c Intellectual Property
Overview
This lesson plan, designed for high school art students, focuses on digital citizenship and intellectual property. Students demonstrate understanding and respect for the rights and obligations of using and sharing intellectual property (ISTE Standard: 1.2.c Intellectual Property) such as artwork from history. Students understand the legal consequences of appropriation, fair use, copyright, open source, social media, and creative commons as they apply to works of art and design (OAS Standard: I.VA.P.2.2 Production). Students explore available content online and curate an original piece of artwork inspired by a piece of artwork from the 20th century. Students understand the level of modifications that need to be made in order to avoid plagiarism. The lesson concludes with students completing a CFA and written response explaining the modifications they made to their work to avoid plagiarism.
Standards & Expectations
This lesson plan, designed for high school art students, focuses on digital citizenship and intellectual property. Students demonstrate understanding and respect for the rights and obligations of using and sharing intellectual property (ISTE Standard: 1.2.c Intellectual Property) such as artwork from history. Students understand the legal consequences of appropriation, fair use, copyright, open source, social media, and creative commons as they apply to works of art and design (OAS Standard: I.VA.P.2.2 Production). Students explore available content online and curate an original piece of artwork inspired by a piece of artwork from the 20th century. Students understand the level of modifications that need to be made in order to avoid plagiarism. The lesson concludes with students completing a CFA and written response explaining the modifications they made to their work to avoid plagiarism.
Title:
Digital Citizenship & Intellectual Property: Exploring Creativity and Legal Boundaries
Overview
This lesson plan aims to teach high school students about the importance of digital citizenship and intellectual property (IP) in the creative arts. By using both historical and contemporary examples, students will explore how artists balance the protection of their work with the creative process. This plan encourages students to reflect on the ethical and legal considerations of using, sharing, and modifying works of art while remaining within the boundaries of copyright laws and open-source licenses.
Learning Objectives
1. Understanding Legal Concepts**: Students will learn the implications of copyright, fair use, open-source, and creative commons in art and design.
2. Creativity within Limits**: Students will explore how to create original artworks inspired by 20th-century art while adhering to intellectual property laws.
3. Ethical Sharing in Digital Spaces**: Students will critically assess how digital platforms influence the sharing and modification of creative works.
4. Modifications and Plagiarism Prevention**: Students will practice curating and modifying existing works while avoiding plagiarism, demonstrating their understanding through both visual and written responses.
Main Content
1. Introduction to Intellectual Property (IP) in Art:
Content: A clear and concise introduction to what intellectual property means in the context of visual arts, covering core concepts like copyright, fair use, and public domain.
Why This Matters: This section helps students understand the basics of IP law, which is essential to maintaining ethical standards in creative industries. A strong foundation in these topics will prepare students for real-world challenges as artists or designers.
2. Case Studies: Historical and Contemporary Examples:
Content: Examples from both historical and contemporary art, such as Shepard Fairey's "Hope" poster (Obama campaign) or Banksy’s street art, showcasing real-world copyright controversies. Other examples can include open-source creative projects.
Why This Matters: These cases provide context, making the theoretical concepts tangible for students. Learning from well-known IP disputes makes the lesson relevant and engaging, showing students that IP laws affect artists across different mediums and timelines.
3. Interactive Workshop: Creating Art with Legal Boundaries:
Content: A practical session where students are tasked to create their own artwork inspired by a 20th-century artist while adhering to copyright and fair use principles.
They can use platforms like Creative Commons to source images or materials, ensuring they work within open-source or fair use guidelines.
Why This Matters: Students learn that creativity and legal constraints can coexist. By actively engaging in this process, they better understand how to navigate intellectual property challenges in their future work.
4. Plagiarism and Modifications: Avoiding Common Pitfalls:
Content: Guidance on how to modify existing works without infringing on copyright. This section provides tools and tips for students to alter works sufficiently to avoid plagiarism while maintaining artistic integrity.
Why This Matters: By learning how to modify artwork properly, students avoid plagiarism and copyright issues. This helps them develop both their artistic skills and their ethical judgment.
5. Digital Sharing and Ethical Use of Platforms:
Content: This section focuses on how artists can ethically share their work online through social media and digital platforms while respecting the IP rights of others. Students will discuss digital ethics and proper sharing protocols.
Why This Matters: As more creative content moves to digital platforms, students must understand the rules for ethical sharing. This prepares them for the realities of a digitally-driven art world where online collaboration and sharing are key.
6. Group Activity: Peer Review and Discussion on Copyright in Digital Age:
Content: Students will present their created works and receive feedback from peers on how well they navigated the IP laws. They will also engage in a discussion about the role of copyright in the digital age, particularly focusing on social media and digital art.
Why This Matters: Group activities foster collaborative learning and critical thinking. Peer feedback encourages students to refine their approach to balancing creativity and legal compliance.
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Final Assignment and Submission:
- Assignment: After completing their art project, students will write a brief reflection on the modifications they made and explain how they avoided plagiarism or copyright infringement.
- Written Response: The student should explain their creative process, including how they sourced and modified their inspiration.
- Submission: The final work (art piece and written response) will be uploaded to the class website, where students can view each other’s work and provide constructive feedback.
Assessment:
1. Creativity and Originality**: Does the student create a piece that shows thoughtfulness and creativity while adhering to copyright laws?
2. IP Knowledge Demonstration: Does the student accurately describe how they navigated intellectual property laws in their project?
3. Ethical Digital Sharing: Is the student able to articulate and apply ethical digital sharin0g practices in their reflection?
Improvements and Reasons for Changes:
1. Interactive Case Studies:
- Reason: Providing concrete examples of IP issues in the art world makes the lesson more engaging and applicable. Students can relate theory to real-world situations, deepening their understanding.
2. Hands-on Creation with Legal Constraints:
- Reason: Giving students the opportunity to create their own art within IP restrictions teaches them that creativity can thrive even under legal boundaries. This mirrors the real-world challenges artists face.
3. Group Activity with Peer Review:
- Reason: Adding a peer review component encourages students to critically engage with each other's work and learn from diverse perspectives. It also promotes collaborative learning and problem-solving skills.
4. Emphasis on Ethical Digital Sharing:
- Reason: In today’s digital-first environment, artists need to understand the impact of sharing their work online. This section prepares students for the ethical and legal issues they’ll encounter when sharing art in digital spaces.
5. Reflection on Modifications and Plagiarism Prevention:
- Reason: Reflection encourages students to critically think about their creative process, reinforcing their understanding of plagiarism and how to avoid it.