SoftChalk : Other Resources

Other Resources

The resources listed below are supplemental websites or products that may be useful when creating interactive lesson content with SoftChalk.

Finding Widgets l Media Resources l Freeware

Websites to Find Widgets

The insert widget feature allows web widgets to be embedded into SoftChalk lessons. Below is a list of websites that offer web widgets for free. Click here to find out more information on using widgets.

Education Atlas- Webster's Dictionary Webster's dictionary and thesaurus tool provides accurate and up-to-date English word definitions and synonyms. It's a perfect addition to any lesson.

Gadgets by Google Gadgets are miniature objects that offer dynamic content that can be placed on any page on the web.

Game Widgets Free online flash games- great for k12 audiences.

Good Widgets Create your own widgets that feature photos or slideshows.

Netvibes Ecosystem An online resource of many different widgets that are available without having to set up an account.

PBS Teachers PBS offers a library of “Activity packs”, essentially widgets, that focus on a curricular theme and include links to great PBS resources and supplemental activities.

Poll Daddy Free online surveys and polls. With a free account you can create polls and surveys for your lessons.

PRI Widgets Public Radio International offers widgets that allow you to listen to, and get headlines of PRI stories on economic security, social entrepreneurship, and global health and development.

Widgetoko A blog that features a new widget everyday

WidgetBox An online resource of many different widgets that are available without having to setup an account

Widgiland An online resource of many different widgets that are available without having to setup an account

Widgipedia An online resource of many different widgets that are available without having to setup an account

Media Resources

The media search tool within SoftChalk offers many repositories to search, however, the websites below might be useful for finding other media for your lessons.

Intelecom A premier provider of digital learning resources and curriculum-based media for online and networked learning.

3D4Medical Offers a collection of medical stills and animations featuring everything from photorealistic and stylized anatomy and physiology to cellular imagery, medical devices, diseases and conditions. Collectively this is the largest collection of medical images and animations worldwide and is perfect for medical graphical content for training and educational purposes.

The Digital Library of Appalachia Access 10,000 archival and historical materials (images, music, text, and media) related to the culture of the southern and central Appalachian region. From the thirty-three member libraries, archives, and museums associated with the Appalachian College Association.

The Getty Museum Contemporary photos, illustrations and archival images; live coverage photos of news, sports, and entertainment; stock footage from rare archival film to contemporary clips; original songs, independent artists. Web-res images are also available for a fee

HubleSite Find colorful pictures an videos of stars, planets, galaxies, nubulae, and more.

MedEdPortal from AAMC A free publishing venue and dissemination portal to support educators and learners as they create and use on-line teaching materials, assessment tools and faculty development resources. Examples of MedEdPORTAL publications include tutorials, virtual patients, cases, lab manuals, assessment instruments, faculty development materials, etc. Includes many excellent flash activities.

Nasa Provides press release photos, as well as, video and audio of spaceflight media. Material is not copyrighted and is available at no cost.

National Institute of Health Image Bank Offers thousands of photos, images, videos of all areas of health and health research – The National Institutes include: Cancer, Aging, Genome, Environmental Health, Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, and many more. Available at no cost, royalty free for non-commercial scientific and educational use. Acknowledgement is required.

US Government Images Images and graphics from government agencies that are available for use in the public domain, and they may be used and reproduced without permission or fee. However, some images may be protected by license. We strongly recommend you thoroughly read the disclaimers on each site before use.

Smithsonian Images Browse or search through selected images from the Collections of the Office of Imaging and Photographic Services. Included are images from current exhibits, Smithsonian events and historic collections for: Air and Space, American History, Animals, Fireworks, Gems and Minerals, History of Technology, Marine Life, Military History, Nature, The Presidency, Transportation, Washington DC. Web-res quality for education purposes available at no cost.

Suggested Freeware

The programs listed below are free software programs that may be helpful when creating dynamic lesson content.

Audacity Open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.

IrfanView A fast, small, and innovative FREEWARE (for non-commercial use) graphic viewer for Windows 9x/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista.

MS Gif Animator Computer software program for Microsoft Windows to create simple animated GIF files based on the GIF89a file format. It was freely downloadable from the Microsoft Download Center, but is now only available on third party download sites

Education Atlas- Webster's Dictionary	Webster's dictionary and thesaurus tool provides accurate and up-to-date English word definitions and synonyms. It's a perfect addition to any lesson.
Gadgets by Google	Gadgets are miniature objects that offer dynamic content that can be placed on any page on the web.
Game Widgets	Free online flash games- great for k12 audiences.
Good Widgets	Create your own widgets that feature photos or slideshows.
Netvibes Ecosystem	An online resource of many different widgets that are available without having to set up an account.
PBS Teachers	PBS offers a library of “Activity packs”, essentially widgets, that focus on a curricular theme and include links to great PBS resources and supplemental activities.
Poll Daddy	Free online surveys and polls. With a free account you can create polls and surveys for your lessons.
PRI Widgets	Public Radio International offers widgets that allow you to listen to, and get headlines of PRI stories on economic security, social entrepreneurship, and global health and development.
Widgetoko	A blog that features a new widget everyday
WidgetBox	An online resource of many different widgets that are available without having to setup an account
Widgiland	An online resource of many different widgets that are available without having to setup an account
Widgipedia	An online resource of many different widgets that are available without having to setup an account

Intelecom	A premier provider of digital learning resources and curriculum-based media for online and networked learning.
3D4Medical	Offers a collection of medical stills and animations featuring everything from photorealistic and stylized anatomy and physiology to cellular imagery, medical devices, diseases and conditions. Collectively this is the largest collection of medical images and animations worldwide and is perfect for medical graphical content for training and educational purposes.
The Digital Library of Appalachia	Access 10,000 archival and historical materials (images, music, text, and media) related to the culture of the southern and central Appalachian region. From the thirty-three member libraries, archives, and museums associated with the Appalachian College Association.
The Getty Museum	Contemporary photos, illustrations and archival images; live coverage photos of news, sports, and entertainment; stock footage from rare archival film to contemporary clips; original songs, independent artists. Web-res images are also available for a fee
HubleSite	Find colorful pictures an videos of stars, planets, galaxies, nubulae, and more.
MedEdPortal from AAMC	A free publishing venue and dissemination portal to support educators and learners as they create and use on-line teaching materials, assessment tools and faculty development resources. Examples of MedEdPORTAL publications include tutorials, virtual patients, cases, lab manuals, assessment instruments, faculty development materials, etc. Includes many excellent flash activities.
Nasa	Provides press release photos, as well as, video and audio of spaceflight media. Material is not copyrighted and is available at no cost.
National Institute of Health Image Bank	Offers thousands of photos, images, videos of all areas of health and health research – The National Institutes include: Cancer, Aging, Genome, Environmental Health, Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, and many more. Available at no cost, royalty free for non-commercial scientific and educational use. Acknowledgement is required.
US Government Images	Images and graphics from government agencies that are available for use in the public domain, and they may be used and reproduced without permission or fee. However, some images may be protected by license. We strongly recommend you thoroughly read the disclaimers on each site before use.
Smithsonian Images	Browse or search through selected images from the Collections of the Office of Imaging and Photographic Services. Included are images from current exhibits, Smithsonian events and historic collections for: Air and Space, American History, Animals, Fireworks, Gems and Minerals, History of Technology, Marine Life, Military History, Nature, The Presidency, Transportation, Washington DC. Web-res quality for education purposes available at no cost.

Audacity	Open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.
IrfanView	A fast, small, and innovative FREEWARE (for non-commercial use) graphic viewer for Windows 9x/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista.
MS Gif Animator	Computer software program for Microsoft Windows to create simple animated GIF files based on the GIF89a file format. It was freely downloadable from the Microsoft Download Center, but is now only available on third party download sites