3 Key takeaways from CLA InPractice for the upcoming year August 23, 2023 By Rebecca Owen As we approach September and gear up for another term, we’re looking back at this year’s CLA InPractice and reflecting on our key takeaways. This was the inaugural CLA InPractice event for Further Education. Speakers suggested: useful training tools explained the complexities of the modern world in the evolving copyright landscape provided examples of how to successfully implement training and track progress With a new school year on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to revisit CLA InPractice, review what we learned from the event, and get ready for another year. Did you miss CLA InPractice? Don’t worry! We recorded it so you can watch the whole thing – view it below! 1. Embrace the playful and make the most of your training In the spirit of preparing for the new school year, speakers introduced new training tools and showcased how to make the most of them. We learned more about the different kinds of copyright training available and the benefits of making the training interactive and fun. One particularly interactive tool, Copyright the Card Game, was showcased by Chris Morrison and Dr Jane Secker, who have made it their mission to “get playful with Copyright”. It’s certainly easier to get playful with copyright when it’s turned into a fun game! Other training tools came from the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), introduced by Lisa Redman. The IPO training area has a Further Education specific course, and they’re working on creating more! As Lisa Redman noted, “IP touches everything that makes modern life more enjoyable, safer, and more prosperous,” so it’s not surprising that the IPO has many training tools to help everyone understand it all. Julie Muray from CLA also got in on the interactive and playful training theme by introducing CLA Copyright Essentials. Copyright Essentials is our new interactive training tool built to help educators feel confident when navigating content reuse day-to-day. Educators using the training will learn more about different licences and exceptions, gain familiarity with copyright jargon, and foster a culture of ethical copying. It’s also tailored to your institution’s licence, with different tracks for Further Education and schools. 2. Define copyright boundaries in an increasingly complex world CLA InPractice also offered a nuanced view of the increasingly blurred lines surrounding copyright and IP when seen through the lens of modern developments. AI has been an increasingly hot-button issue in education and copyright discussions. Phil Bradley expertly explained that while AI isn’t new, it’s evolving rapidly and cannot be ignored. In his own words, he was, “ready to make the very bold claim that AI is going to be more important than the internet, and more important than mobile phone technology. It’s going to affect every single thing it is that we do, in every single area of our lives.” What are the implications in the world of copyright? Well, he doesn’t know. There are a lot of questions about who owns what when AI has been involved in the creation. Phil is pretty sure that hybrid AI and human writing/creating and AI enhanced creativity will be the norm of the future, so it’s essential to learn to use the tools available. He also asked rhetorical questions about how AI might shape the future – pointing out that we don’t yet know what responsible AI use will look like, which creative doors will open, and what in the copyright world will change going forward. One viewer expressed that Phil “answered questions but also asked important questions that can’t be answered yet. Questions we should ask now about the lives we want to live.” However, while AI may blur some lines, the line between fair dealing (or fair use in America) and copyright infringement can be drawn by legal experts. Emily Hudson explored the balance between permissible imitation and impermissible infringement in the context of art and pastiche. Using the recent US Supreme Court decision about Andy Warhol Foundation v Goldsmith as an example, she explained the basics of ‘fair dealing’ – the closest UK equivalent to the much better known US ‘fair use’ exception for the purposes of pastiche. She explained how a similar case might be treated in the UK, emphasising the importance of thorough examination and recognising the various intricacies and complexities. 3. Translate training to practical progress One theme we kept seeing was the importance of continuous learning. Kerry Steeden’s insights into how she has been working to improve communication and services at Blackpool and the Fylde College stood out as an excellent example of how an educator can practically implement their training and see measurable advances. Her team has successfully introduced several improvements to communication around available resources and is measuring data to ensure they use their resources as effectively as possible. Improvements included sending new educators an automated welcome pack with a list of resources and contact information and using an engagement tracking system to better understand how learners and educators were reaching out. Educators are now immediately aware of all of the recourses available when they arrive, and the LRC can more effectively focus on creating more student engagement. The LRC staff have also implemented increased trackability to ensure that the college is making the most of their resources, and can better focus their budget and supplies to best address learners needs. Kerry has already seen a marked increase in learner’s success, with data showing that learners who make use of the resources available to them perform better on average than those who don’t. This initial data suggests that the new communications and data tracking policies have been a success. Kerry is optimistic that she will continue to see positive data as she believes the college is “just the very start of our journey.” A comment from Sarah Brear, event moderator Event moderator and CLA Development Manager – Education, Sarah Brear, commented: “It was a great honour to bring together professionals from FE – a sector that plays such a significant role in the education and wider community. Our panel worked hard to deliver a programme that was exciting, thought-provoking, and supportive, while at the same time celebrating the fantastic work of UK colleges. We were thrilled with all of our presenters, who shared their huge expertise and insight in such an engaging way.” Quick thanks We would like to thank our speakers and our sector panel – Emma Forrest-Leigh, Mark Nicolson, Penny Robertson, Emma Furness and Kerry Steeden – who suggested topics and advised on the event format. Thank you also to our attendees for their great questions, positive feedback and constructive comments. We are looking forward to next year already – we hope you join us! Want to see more? Our annual CITE conference is coming up on Thursday 2 November and has confirmed talks on AI, RNIB Bookshare, accessibility and social media, communicating the importance of copyright, and updates from CLA. Registration is opening soon, so make sure you subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date.
