And based on everything I've learned about copyright laws over the past few weeks, it should scare you too. As our professor emphasized in class, while none of us are likely to face a lawsuit if we play John Lennon's "Imagine" in a presentation for our students (because no one is going to tell or care), we need to be prepared to face the consequences if we're caught or if a music exec's kid is sitting in our class. Don't forget about the teacher who showed "Shrek" from a bad DVD and got fired. That kid's father was such a jerk, by the way. I'd have given that teacher a nice, stern warning and confiscated the DVD at the next parent-teacher conference.
Anyway, the biggest implication I see copyright laws having on every day teaching involves websites and computer programs. Putting random online photos, videos or music clips on a website (a personal or class website) is something I will never do now. I will also never install another program onto any computer in my classroom unless I read over the copyright laws, thoroughly, and follow them to a T.
Since I'm not crazily dependent on using technology and since most materials can be used if its for an educational purpose, I don't see copyright having huge implications on my future teaching. But it certainly feels nice knowing what the rules are. I don't like messing with the government...
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