Chad Loughrige's List: EDIM 514 - CC Media Library

I just had to add Freesound.org to my list of creative commons resources.  I use this site frequently in my classes in audio technology.  The site hosts an expansive archive of sounds recorded by its users.  All of the sounds are licenses under Creative Commons, so they are free to use in class.  With such a large searchable database, it's possible to create various curriculum that needs audio, even when it's not feasible to record that audio personally.  And depending on the CC license type, students can mash, mangle, cut, copy, chop...do whatever they want to the source audio.

This site seems to be THE place to go to search for Creative Commons photography.  Using the Advance Search function, this website will scour the web, including sites like Flickr, NASA, Wikimedia Commons, and PhotoXpress, for CC licensed photos.  The user can even specify the exact license type they are searching for by using an easy drop-down interface.  This can be a great resource for any student looking to include photography in a media rich project.  It could also be a great lesson for the teacher to require students to pick certain CC licenses and be sure they credit them properly.

I chose to include this website on this CC media list as a way to introduce the concept of video loops (VJ) to educators.  I use VJ loops in an amazing application called Arkaos Grand VJ, which allows the user to "play" the loops with a MIDI keyboard.  Gaining access to CC licensed VJ loops is an integral part of using the software, and can help students learn about storytelling through animation.  Outside of the Arkaos software, students could use these cool looking loops in other media projects as an alternate source of images beyond standard photography and videos.  The specifies that the user must log into Vimeo, where the loops are hosting, and download them on the lower right hand side.

I thought I'd go outside the box on this link by showcasing a media resource for Creative Commons licensed 3D models.  Why 3D models? Well, I've been very interested in creating models for use in the Apple iBooks Author application, as I'm interested in writing a media rich iBook on audio technology.  iBook Author allows the use of COLLADA files which can be created through the online 3D development tool, Google Sketchup.  Long story short, many of the 3D models on this site can be opened in Google Sketchup and can be a great resource in getting started with the software.  For any advanced curriculum in 3D design, these models can be a great starting point for the curriculum, especially when students are looking for ideas or are curious about how to implement certain parameters in the software. 

I wanted to find a media resource that focused on abstract photos, rather than traditional images.  This site hosts over 2500 images, completely licensed through Creative Commons.  I feel that when students are creating media projects, it is very easy for them to use stock photography that is "common".  I want to expand my students' ideas of creativity, and feel that a resource like this can do just that.  Students can use these images as backgrounds for PowerPoint presentations, posters, banners, website creation, and videos.