Flash Notes

I don't know how many of you read the Daily Kent Stater on Monday, but there was an article, written by Morgan Galloway, that discussed Flash Notes.

If you haven't read the article you are welcomed to click the "article" link above or I will briefly describe what Flash Notes are, and what I believe the ethical issue is that involves them.

Flash Notes is a dot com site that provides students with class notes, book summaries, and other class materials (no tests included). The one catch to the information provided is that you have to pay a small fee to receive these materials and all of these are uploaded by other students.

This may sound like a gold mine, and great idea but could potentially cause major issues. The website offers payment from the notes that they take during their classes, but is that right?

• Is it the right of the professors to be the only ones allowed to put the knowledge they have attained, and the lectures they speak about, up for money?
• Is it right for students to be asked to pay for these notes, if a student is taking the notes and it may not be the best material available?
• Is it right for students from other universities or even non-students, that have not paid for the classes, to have access to those notes with only a small payment and NOT tuition?
• Is it right for students to slack off, perhaps not attend lectures, or not take notes, and still receive decent grades by using other student's notes?
• Is it right for students who may have had a computer crash or a backpack stolen, be able to have access to notes online?

These are just a few of the questions that instantly came to me after reading the article.

Although I do believe that the individual, a Kent State alum, that created the idea for the site was very aware of the want/needs of students it may have created a real ethical issue. It is an issue that I have played around with in my head the past few days and really cannot determine what I think is the "best" right decision...