As historian David Owen remarks, “Copying is the engine of civilization: culture is behaviour duplicated” (Owen, 2004). Pedagogical values are passed from teacher to student, and within educational communities. Some teachers create material for support websites, the express reason being that resources can be bought, copied and used in some manner that fits buyer needs. Moreover, private markets pay well for quality material that works effectively in classrooms. Training schools often require developing teachers to watch experienced ones in action so absorption, reflection and emulation can occur. At a busy, condensed conference, the phrase “Don’t worry, you’ll get a copy of this”, can evoke sighs of relief. Department meetings and professional development courses are often enhanced by direct exchange of ideas and resources. They see new ideas and may wish to use them directly, or adapt and modify. For those who make it life’s work to nurture ideas, comfort resides in knowing a good resource can be captured for future use. They also offer comfort in that something important will not disappear into the abyss of content – having a copy means the item and all embodied ideas will last when the original moves forward. At the least, copying technologies offer functional ease. Photocopiers are unique social junctions within schools, and important academic intersects between teachers and students. Much can happen at a school copier: plans made, gossip spread, discussions had, meetings set.
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