Student learning · Grades 6–8, Grades 9–12 · 50 minutes
Remix Rights
Students sort real-world remix decisions using copyright, Creative Commons, and fair use, then write credit lines that include honest notes about AI help.
"It was on the internet, so it's free" is one of the most common student beliefs, and it's wrong. Almost everything people create is protected by copyright automatically, but creators can choose to share through Creative Commons licenses, and fair use allows some limited uses for things like commentary, criticism, and teaching. In this activity, students sort fourteen remix decisions, learn what the Creative Commons license symbols mean, and write credit lines for a project, including an honest note when AI helped. The goal is not fear of using anything; it's knowing how to remix responsibly.
In this packet
- Handout A: Remix Decisions Sort (card sort)
- Handout B: License Cards (cut-apart cards)
- Handout C: Credit Line Builder (worksheet)
- Facilitator key (last page)
TCEA ELE indicators
- S1.3 I am aware of how AI can assist me in my studies.
- AI2.1 I know how to apply ethical principles when using or developing AI for education.
- AI2.3 I am aware of the importance of transparency and accountability in AI systems.
- S1.1 I know how to use technology to support my learning.
- S2.3 I am aware of the potential risks of sharing content online.
Full facilitator guide: mglearn.github.io/eles/activities/remix-rights.html
Handout A for Remix Rights
Remix Decisions Sort
All creators, songs, and collections are made up. Place each strip in a category. For fair use, name the factor: why, what kind, how much, or market harm.
Go ahead, with credit
Get permission or choose something else
Might be fair use: explain
Handout A for Remix Rights
Remix Decisions Sort: cards to sort
Cut apart the strips. Sort each one onto the mat and be ready to explain why.
Sheet 1 of 2
1 · Using a CC BY photo of a canyon in your class slideshow, with a credit line.
2 · Using a CC BY-NC song in a video you plan to sell online.
3 · Quoting two sentences from a novel in your book review for English class, with the page number.
4 · Copying a whole article from a news site onto your class blog.
5 · Using a CC0 illustration of a sunflower on your science poster.
6 · Showing a 10-second clip from a movie in a class presentation analyzing its camera angles.
7 · Taking a classmate's drawing from the shared class folder and using it as your profile picture.
8 · Adding text to a CC BY-SA photo for a poster and sharing the poster under CC BY-SA.
9 · Adding captions to a CC BY-ND photo and posting the edited version.
10 · Using a popular band's entire hit song as background music for a school video posted publicly.
11 · Using an AI tool your teacher approved to make a poster background, then writing "All artwork by me."
12 · Using a photo from image search results that shows no license information.
Handout A for Remix Rights
Remix Decisions Sort: cards to sort
Cut apart the strips. Sort each one onto the mat and be ready to explain why.
Sheet 2 of 2
13 · Making a short parody of a TV cartoon's theme song for a class project that pokes fun at the show.
14 · Posting an AI response that repeats several pages of a copyrighted novel word for word.
Handout B for Remix Rights
License Cards
Cut apart. The front shows the license name; the back explains what it lets you do. Every CC license except CC0 requires credit.
Sheet 1 of 2
Creative Commons
CC BY (Attribution)
Creative Commons
CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike)
Creative Commons
CC BY-NC (Attribution-NonCommercial)
Creative Commons
CC BY-ND (Attribution-NoDerivatives)
Creative Commons
CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike)
Creative Commons
CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives)
Creative Commons
CC0 (No Rights Reserved)
No restrictions
Public Domain
Handout B for Remix Rights
License Cards
Cut apart. The front shows the license name; the back explains what it lets you do. Every CC license except CC0 requires credit.
Sheet 2 of 2
Default
All Rights Reserved (standard copyright)
Handout C for Remix Rights
Credit Line Builder
TASL = Title, Author, Source, License. Example: "Sunrise over Clear Lake" by R. Delgado, from the Riverbend Photo Commons, licensed CC BY 4.0.
Media I'm using (image, song, clip, text) and what project it's for:
T · Title: A · Author/creator: S · Source (where I found it): L · License:
My full credit line:
Did AI help with any part of this project? If yes, my AI note: what tool type, what I asked, what the AI made, and what I made or changed:
One decision from the sort our team disagreed about, and what we decided:
My remix rule: Before I use someone else's work, I will… When AI helps me, I will…
Facilitator only for Remix Rights
Answer key and notes
Handout A: Remix Decisions Sort
| Item | Sort | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Using a CC BY photo of a canyon in your class slideshow, with a credit line. | Go ahead, with credit | CC BY allows any reuse as long as you credit the creator. |
| 2 · Using a CC BY-NC song in a video you plan to sell online. | Get permission or choose something else | NC means noncommercial only. Selling is commercial. |
| 3 · Quoting two sentences from a novel in your book review for English class, with the page number. | Might be fair use: explain | Commentary (why), a small amount (how much), and it won't replace the book (market). |
| 4 · Copying a whole article from a news site onto your class blog. | Get permission or choose something else | The whole work, reposted publicly, could replace the original. Link to it and summarize instead. |
| 5 · Using a CC0 illustration of a sunflower on your science poster. | Go ahead, with credit | CC0 requires no credit, but giving it anyway is good practice. |
| 6 · Showing a 10-second clip from a movie in a class presentation analyzing its camera angles. | Might be fair use: explain | Teaching and criticism (why), a short clip (how much). |
| 7 · Taking a classmate's drawing from the shared class folder and using it as your profile picture. | Get permission or choose something else | Your classmate owns their art. Ask first. |
| 8 · Adding text to a CC BY-SA photo for a poster and sharing the poster under CC BY-SA. | Go ahead, with credit | BY-SA allows changes if you credit and share your version under the same license. |
| 9 · Adding captions to a CC BY-ND photo and posting the edited version. | Get permission or choose something else | ND means no derivatives: you may share it only unchanged. |
| 10 · Using a popular band's entire hit song as background music for a school video posted publicly. | Get permission or choose something else | The whole song, used for background, not commentary. Choose openly licensed music. |
| 11 · Using an AI tool your teacher approved to make a poster background, then writing "All artwork by me." | Go ahead, with credit | Using it is fine if class rules allow it, but be honest: add a note that says what AI made and what you made. |
| 12 · Using a photo from image search results that shows no license information. | Get permission or choose something else | No license shown means assume all rights reserved. Use a license filter or an openly licensed collection. |
| 13 · Making a short parody of a TV cartoon's theme song for a class project that pokes fun at the show. | Might be fair use: explain | Parody that comments on the original (why) can be fair use, especially if it borrows only what it needs. |
| 14 · Posting an AI response that repeats several pages of a copyrighted novel word for word. | Get permission or choose something else | Copying long passages is still copying, even if an AI produced it. |
Handout B: License Cards
- Creative Commons
- Share, remix, even sell, as long as you credit the creator.
- Creative Commons
- Share and remix with credit, and share your new version under the same license.
- Creative Commons
- Share and remix with credit, but not to make money.
- Creative Commons
- Share it with credit, but only exactly as it is. Don't share changed versions.
- Creative Commons
- Remix with credit, not for money, and share your version under the same license.
- Creative Commons
- The most limited CC license: share unchanged, with credit, not for money.
- Creative Commons
- The creator gave up their rights as far as the law allows. Use it freely; credit is optional but kind.
- No restrictions
- No copyright applies, often because it expired long ago. Use it freely, and credit it anyway so others can find the source.
- Default
- The creator keeps all rights. Ask permission, unless your use might be fair use.