by Elio Garcia
 
Over a hundred participants composed of teachers and students from Xavier University and other schools in Mindanao attended the webinar on Copyright and Essentials of Textbook Making by Dr Arlene Yandug last April 26, 2022. The lecture was organized by the University Research Council and Kinaadman: University Research Office (KURO) as part of the celebration of the Xavier Research Week 2022. A published researcher and poet, Dr Yandug holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of the Philippines and teaches literature at the Department of English Language and Literature of Xavier University. She is also the current manager of the Xavier University Press and the editor of the Kinaadman Journal.

 
Yandug discussed the legal and pedagogical considerations in preparing courseware during the new normal where classes have gone online and a rapid sharing and dissemination of materials have taken place. In the question and answer that followed, Yandug enlightened the participants on actual issues that they face including how to safely reproduce and acquire permission for use of copyrighted materials, appropriation, attribution, claims on royalties, the extent of fair use, and the challenges regarding privacy and exclusivity of class materials. KURO envisions more conversations covering such topics in the future to equip educators from Mindanao.