Resource Sharing on CoLab Ed: The Dos and Donts

Written By Ariella Racco

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As educators, we know that collaboration makes us stronger. At CoLab Education, we're building a vibrant community where teachers can share, learn, and grow together. But when it comes to sharing resources, it's important to know what's okay to share and what isn't. Let's break it down!👇

1. Your Original Creations

  • Lesson plans, slides, worksheets, assessments, or any materials you've developed

  • Unpolished and realistic plans you teach by. No need for any bells and whistles!

  • Teaching strategies and classroom management techniques you’ve designed

2. Publicly Accessible Resources

  • Links to free educational websites with your insights on how you've used them

  • Open educational resources (OER) with proper attribution

  • Teaching methodologies and approaches

  • Your experiences and best practices

3. Ideas and Perspectives

  • Feedback on other educators' resources

  • Participation in community discussions

  • Teaching tips and tricks

  • Questions

1. Paid Resources

  • Materials purchased from sites like Teachers Pay Teachers or publishers like Nelson

  • Subscription-based content

  • Licensed materials without permission

2. Copyrighted Content

  • Textbook scans or excerpts

  • Commercial educational products

  • Resources explicitly marked as "do not share"

3. Private Information and Data

  • Student, family, and staff information

  • Internal school documentation

The Grey Area

We understand that the issue of sharing resources created during school hours can be complex:

  • Some school contracts state that materials created on the job are school property

  • In our many conversations, we have found that administrators actually encourage sharing for professional development

  • When in doubt, always check with your administration about the policies that govern you

“I came for the resources, I stayed for the community”

Remember, CoLab Education is about more than just resource sharing. You can:

  • Offer constructive feedback on others' resources

  • Join community groups to discuss educational topics

  • Connect with like-minded educators

  • Find collaboration partners for projects

As educators, we're stronger together.

By following these guidelines, we can create a rich, collaborative environment that benefits everyone while respecting intellectual property rights. When in doubt, remember: sharing your expertise, experiences, and openly-licensed resources is always welcome on CoLab Education!

Have questions about what you can share? Reach out to us here - we're here to help!

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SHARE YOUR FIRST RESOURCE!

***ONLY VALID UNTIL NOVEMBER 1st***

Ariella Racco
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