s content I create for class mine PIN

Teachers have always created things for their students. Teachers spend so much time in the classroom and know their students so well, that is natural they create content for those classrooms. And then, when they eventually emerge from the classroom they all ask the same question: Is the content I create for my class mine?

It is a good question. It is a shift in how we consider ourselves as professionals.
And it matters to many teachers who may be buying and/or selling teacher-created materials online.

Here are some common sense guidelines to help you draw the line between your professional endeavors and help you with a basic answer to those at your day job that might be wondering – is that content you created yours or ours?

When?

When was this content created? If the content was created during work hours it is a work product.

Instead ~ intentionally save creation of content for outside of school time. You can still use it in school, but this facet of the creation enables you to do more with the content.

Where?

Where was the content created? This can mean two things. First, were you “on the clock” at work? Second, were you on a school-provided device? If yes to either of those, it is a work product.

Instead ~ make sure that you create content away from work, not just after hours, so there is no confusion by your or your employer. As an added bonus, depending on the size of your business, you may be able to deduct the space you use at home as a cost of business {no one ever accused me of being an accountant, find someone who knows this stuff}.

How?

Did you create this content with school-owned software? If so, this is a work product.

Instead ~ educate yourself on the softwares you require, with the best ease of use, and consider investing in them yourself for at home content creation. In many cases, schools/districts even provide access to tutorials to learn how to work the programs at work. You can learn how to create for both at school and at home.

What if the content you create is a result of training you received through your school or district? Contemplate a grace period between your training and your consulting career, but skills learned by you are owned by you.

Watch for laws to catch up with this in the next few years {no one ever confused me with a legit lawyer either, find someone who knows this stuff}. Employers are likely to push the issue with the rise of TeachersPayTeachers and similar teacher created content marketplaces. Watchdogs such as the National Education Association is one of the better sources for keeping up with your legal standing in these cases.

Is content i create for class mine