CLA’s Annual Survey: Teachers tell us they want short, snappy training

Huge thanks to the 400 teachers who participated in CLA’s first annual licence survey, designed to assess how well CLA is supporting teachers who rely on our licence to resource their lessons.

The survey results highlight that respondents are familiar with copyright, CLA, and their understanding of the key terms of the CLA Education Licence is very good. Just over 88% of respondents cited at least some degree of understanding of CLA. Since launching the Licence to Copy campaign in tandem with publishers in January 2019, it’s clear that CLA’s messages on the Licence are drip-feeding to the people who need them most – the teacher at the copier.

Less understood is CLA’s role. Respondents commented on their perception of CLA as a monitor or ‘police’ of copying, when in fact the CLA Education Licence is the enabler that helps teachers conduct the copying that is likely restricted by copyright law. Thanks to comments contributed in the survey, CLA will now focus on improving communication around its primary function – to distribute royalty payments to publishers, authorsand visual artists, some of whom are themselves teachers (like Graham and Sade). Copyright has long been stigmatised in the press as a negative, synonymous with court cases and huge payouts, but it’s far more about the daily work of small creatives who rely on their intellectual property for a living.

Respondents overwhelmingly pointed to online training as one of the key ways to communicate this message (32% indicated this was their preference), but that for the time-poor and over-stretched teacher it should be concise and accessible. CLA is now developing an online module to support both teachers in post and in training to understand the copyright landscape, and how best to navigate it. But also clear is that a multi-faceted approach is needed. No two teachers are the same, and so, to offer the best support, a variety of touch points from annual online training, to the regular bulletin and the poster on the wall offer the best support.

Julie Murray, Education Account Manager, comments on what the survey has revealed.

We know that teachers want to do the right thing, and ultimately they just want to know where they stand. We’re taking serious note of the recommendations this survey has highlighted. The poster in the reprographic room still has its place – teachers are a rather captive audience as they turn pages and deal with paper jams! But CLA needs to do more to support existing and trainee teachers make informed decisions about the resources the share with students. We’ve heard loud and clear that online training is the quick shot in the arm that many teachers want.

Over the coming months, CLA will continue to work with educational publishers to develop further support for teachers so that they feel confident to ask the right questions when dealing with copyrighted materials.  We look forward to seeing if that has an impact on the survey results next year!