Ethical use and creation of information are crucial aspects of information literacy. This section focuses on promoting responsible and ethical practices when utilizing and producing information.
Copyright and Fair Use
Understand the principles of copyright law and how they govern the use of copyrighted materials.
Learn about fair use exceptions that allow for limited use of copyrighted works without permission, such as for criticism, commentary, teaching, or research purposes.
Familiarize yourself with the specific copyright regulations in your country or jurisdiction.
Responsible Information Sharing
Understand the importance of responsible information sharing, particularly in online environments.
Consider the potential impact of sharing information, such as personal data, on privacy, consent, and confidentiality.
Respect the rights and privacy of others when sharing or disseminating information, particularly on social media or other public platforms.
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
Understand what constitutes plagiarism, which involves using someone else's work, ideas, or words without proper attribution.
Learn how to avoid plagiarism by appropriately citing and referencing sources using recognized citation styles, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago.
Understand the importance of academic integrity and the potential consequences of plagiarism.
Ethical Research Practices
Adhere to ethical guidelines and regulations when conducting research involving human subjects, animals, or sensitive data.
Understand the principles of informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, and the responsible handling of data.
Familiarize yourself with the ethical guidelines provided by your institution or professional organizations in your field.
Open Access and Creative Commons
Familiarize yourself with open access initiatives that promote free and unrestricted access to scholarly or creative works.
Understand the different types of Creative Commons licenses and how they enable creators to share their work with specific permissions and restrictions.
Consider publishing your own work under open access or Creative Commons licenses to foster knowledge sharing and accessibility.
Ethical Considerations in Data and Information Use
Be aware of ethical considerations when working with data, such as ensuring data integrity, respecting confidentiality, and protecting sensitive information.
Adhere to ethical guidelines and regulations in data collection, storage, and analysis.
Consider the potential biases and limitations of data sources and critically evaluate the ethical implications of using and interpreting data.
Intellectual Property
Familiarize yourself with the basics of intellectual property rights, including copyright, patents, and trademarks.
Respect and adhere to the rights of creators and innovators by obtaining proper permissions or licenses when necessary.
Be aware of the implications of intellectual property infringement, both legally and ethically.
Attribution and Citation Practices
Practice proper attribution and citation of sources in your research, presentations, and publications.
Understand the importance of giving credit to the original creators or authors of information you use.
Follow recognized citation styles and guidelines for citing different types of sources appropriately.
