Can an instructor stop students from sharing the instructor's course materials?
Answer
As a practical matter, it can be difficult to stop sharing students from course materials. Technically, it’s incredibly easy for students to do it, without stopping to think through the issues. Instructors’ best bets are to communicate really clearly to students about the instructors’ expectations, including their reasons and the potential consequences. Syllabus statements are helpful, but not sufficient; instructors should also speak directly to their students in classes about what to do or not to do with course materials. Instructors should also clearly label course materials with appropriate statements around restrictions.
The Libraries are available to meet with instructors to help figure out the best ways to communicate about expectations, or to respond to unauthorized distributions.
See also:
- “Students Sharing Course Materials: Can Instructors Intervene?”, Laura Quilter & Charlotte Roh, UMass Libraries (2015)
- MSP Guidelines for Online Course Syllabi and Copyright (2020)