SoftChalk Quick Start

Media Search Tool and Media Repositories

Overview

The Media Search tool allows you to search for content across several media repositories. A media repository is a website or content database with searchable content.
Media Repository content can include:

Once you find content with the Media Search tool, you can insert an item directly into a lesson and/or save the item(s) into your SoftChalk Library.

Media Repositories & Content Management Systems

Each of the repositories included in SoftChalk is governed by different license agreements. Use of any material found within these repositories is subject to rights, terms, and conditions posted on each repository website.

CONNECT

A free repository where the user can create and share dynamic web-based learning objects that can be embedded in just about any web site or email, and, of course, you can use SoftChalk CONNECT learning objects in any lessons you create with SoftChalk.
Search Results: Flash objects (learning activities)
License: Use of material is subject to rights, terms and conditions posted on the SoftChalk CONNECT website.

Connexions

An open-access repository for collaboratively developing, free sharing and rapidly publishing scholarly content.
Search Results: Links to academic articles (anyone may view or contribute).
License: Use of material is subject to rights, terms and conditions posted on the Connexions site.

Flickr

A repository of photos and images.
Search Results: Embedded images.
License: Use of material is subject to rights, terms and conditions posted on the Flickr site. Creative Commons is a search option.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A premium repository (subscription required) of media and articles.
Search Results: Links to a variety of content, websites and media.
License: Use of material is subject to rights, terms and conditions posted on the Encyclopedia Britannica site.
Membership: In North and South America, call 1.800.621.3900, request information or visit www.info.eb.com. For all other regions of the world, visit the international sales website to find the proper contact information.

INTELECOM

A premium repository (subscription required) of educational video clips, streamed on demand.
Search Results: Embedded videos.
License: Use of material found on the INTELECOM Online Resources Network™ requires a valid subscriber license agreement from INTELECOM Intelligent Telecommunications.
Membership: In North and South America, call 1.800.621.3900, request information or visit www.info.eb.com. For all other regions of the world, visit the international sales website to find the proper contact information.

LUNA Commons

An open-source repository of educational content from Luna Imaging Inc.
Search Results: Embedded images.
License: Use of material is subject to rights, terms and conditions posted on the LUNA Commons site.

MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching)

A digital referatory of online lessons and courses submitted by educators.
Search Results: Usually links to content developed by MERLOT members. Some multimedia RLOs can be embedded.
License: You must join MERLOT to get access; membership is free. Use of any material found through this service is subject to rights, terms, and conditions posted on the MERLOT site.

MIT Visualizing Cultures Project

An open-access image repository from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Search Results: Embedded images.
License: None required.

NSDL

An open-access repository from the National Science Digital Library.
Search Results: Links to websites, videos and documents.
License: Use of any material found through this service is subject to rights, terms, and conditions posted on the NSDL site.
Membership: Use the configure button in the Media Search Tool to both join MERLOT and request a key to access their referatory.

The Orange Grove

A K-20 repository from the Florida Distance Learning Consortium.
Search Results: Usually links, but some content are RLOs and can be embedded.
License: Access is open and subject to conditions posted on the Orange Grove site.

Wikipedia

A free open-access dictionary repository.
Search Results: Links to Wikipedia content.
License: Wikipedia content is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

WU Academic Commons

An open-access repository to digital works produced by Willamette University community members.
Search Results: Embedded images.
License: Use of copyrighted images in Academic Commons collections must be consistent with the guidelines established by the Visual Resources Association (VRA). The limited distribution of copyrighted images in a manner consistent with these guidelines is considered to be fair use.

YouTube

A free open-access online video community.
Search Results: Embedded flash videos.
License: Use of material is subject to rights, terms and conditions posted on the YouTube site.


Content Management Systems

Institutions can purchase one of these products to build their own digital repository. Digital repositories developed with these systems are searchable using the Media Search Tool in SoftChalk.

Blackboard Content System

The Blackboard Content System integrates with the Blackboard Learn LMS. For more information please visit their website or contact them.

CONTENTdm

This Digital Collection Management Software is from OCLC. For more information please visit their website or send an email to contentdm@oclc.org.

Equella

This Digital Repository Software is from The Learning Edge.  For more information please visit their website or contact them.

 

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