I have just received the 'model release' forms. I had a bit of a rebellion as the group of learners felt the wording was far too much to take in. They wanted to take them away to study. As this was a day course they didn't want to spend precious time studying it and when the group includes learners who find that amount of text a challenge it diverts their attention from the course learning. One learner 'knocked up' a simple statement and learners signed this. This may not have fulfilled legal requirements but reflected the feelings of the learners. Can some time be spent on looking at this form and making it more appropirate for the learning situation. More than one form may be needed for different groups of learners.
sara
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5 comments:
Sara
I am currently reviewing this form with Duncan (our Marketing Officer)as currently the form is only about photographs and as you know we are now using video/sound too. I agree we need something simple. The key is to ensure the learners are absolutely clear about what they are signing. Do you think that a short statement from the tutor to clarify what they are signing would work? The form would then just confirm that the tutor had explained it to them and that were either happy for photo/sound/video to be used - or they were not. Could you let me have a copy or the content of the form your learner produced.
The form the learner produced was done very quickly - but I think the essence of it was very good. She used the GL14 computer and did not save it - but I can send you a hard copy of it - will send by post - please just e-mail me the best address to reach you. Interestingly learners today didn't seem to mind signing and didn't read the content - over trusting (I think) - probably the amount of text put them off reading it at all. Many of the learners today found reading this amount of text a challenge - so I explained it and they signed it. I play safe and only submit pictures without faces and audio comments. I find when I announce this - learners are relaxed about it all and it does not impinge on learning. There is a big difference between allowing photos to provide 'evidence' of learning and giving 'carte blanche' permission to do whatever with it. Snipets can be taken to illustrate a point - and the snipet was actually part of another point altogether. I have featured in a report recently where this has happened. My feelings are that there should be 2questions - one relating to evidence stored by AdEd and another re further publicity and the interent etc.
This is an interesting and important discussion. Most of my learners last term signed the model release forms on the first session. There'd been enough reading that day - scheme of work, etc. A couple read it carefully but most hardly read it, keen to meet each other and talk about the course and their ideas rather than spend time reading yet another form!. I did as you suggested Jane, summarised the contents of the form and most of them were happy with that. I'm not sure about this one though! Personally, I'm not happy about signing anything without reading it as carefully as possible.
As you say Sara nearly all photos and video clips we take are of people's hands working with no faces showing, but sometimes faces do show.
I'd be wary of there being different forms for different learners. Most groups we teach include a great diversity of learners.
Your last point Lizzy may have come from my suggestion - that perhaps we need more than one form - I didn't mute this because of the diversity of the learners - it was that signing a form to allow photos/video etc. for gathering evidence is very different from allowing photos to be used in promotional work/internet/aded magazines etc. etc. Most learners will be fine about photos for 'evidence' but 'carte blanche' permission for everything and anything is another matter and much more complecated. If there is to be just be one form I suggest it is clear that it is just for evidence and then if the photo/video is wanted for something else the learner should be contacted. After all most of the photos are to record RARPA and do not need to go into the 'public domain'. 'Evidence gathering' is relatively simple to explain and a simple form could be devised that would not prompt long ethical discussions the learners can get on with what they have come for.
just another thought re designing a photo-release form. GL14 Community Project ran a children's 'messy play' area at a public play day festival recently and they gave workshop leaders stickers with 'no photos' on for people to put on if they didn't want to be photographed by the official team of photographers. 'Opt out' systems are very flawed, but talking to Lizzie and thinkin about the stickers - could a form be devised with symbols? - as Lizzie says (and I agree)we don't want to have to give out different forms based on how well tutors think the learner will understand the form.
How about a picture of a camera and video symbol (?) with and without a cross through it. This could be repeated for the following questions -
'photos/videos of work and work being done'
'photos/videos to include learner's face'
Above questions can easily be represented with a picture.
This would cut out a lot of text and could be followed by two simple sentences -
1. for 'evidence' gathering for aded (tick yes or no)
2.. for the public domain such as advertising, internet and public reports. (tick yes or no)
It starts getting complecated when trying to distinguish between video, audio and photos. But is this idea worth considering?
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