For Faculty

Finding Reliable Sources for Use in Digital Storytelling

By Alan Michels, Instructional Designer

So you have the text for a lesson laid out in your course. It has the basic information you want to convey and the major points laid out in the correct order. You have assignments in mind to evaluate the student on via quiz, written assignment, project, etc. But that's it. It's mostly black text on white background. Nothing to write home about. No engagement. No memory triggers to the other senses. No supplemental information beyond a textbook, reading assignments, research, etc. Nothing visual. Nothing auditory. What's next?

My storytelling team colleague, Shelley Kemp, shared information with you in a previous article about Enhancing Social Presence Using Digital Storytelling. That's where to start. But as you are establishing your steps in creating a digital story, how do you know that you are finding materials that are free and clear to use? Here are some rules of thumb:

• Are you making use of the supplemental materials provided with access to the textbook you are using?
  Materials available with the textbook are ready and available for use in your course and designed to fit with the materials being taught. Just make sure all materials are accessible. This is a service TTU Worldwide eLearning can help you with.
• Is your information in the public domain?
  Works in the public domain are sources that are no longer protected by intellectual property laws such as copyright, trademark, patent, etc. A work enters the public domain 70 years after the author, artist, inventor, etc. has passed away. Also other items are expressly created and designated as in the public domain. Here is a link explaining more about the three main categories of public domain: https://www.teachingcopyright.org/handout/public-domain-faq.html.
• Are you making use of openly licensed media?
  Openly licensed media is a little bit different than items being in the public domain. Instead of being items that have passed into the open domain after the set amount of time, openly licensed media are items that were created and made available for public use – largely in education. Instructors can filter for openly licensed content via the following search method in Google:
  
  Google Images>Tools>Usage Rights>Labeled for reuse or Labeled for noncommercial use.
  
  Texas Tech University Librarian, Camille Thomas, has also created a guide containing sites to find content under creative common, which can be used and shared freely as long as the creators are credited: Open Educational Resources: Open Media, Data, and Course Material
• Are you using information from a reliable, first degree source?
  A first degree source is a website like the Smithsonian Institution, or an industry or field of study's professional organization, i.e., The American Institute of Architects (AIA). What you don't want to do is use something that has been copied from site to site to site. If possible, an item should be traced back to its original source. Building a pool of these sites is very useful for quick reference. The Library of Congress is also a good resource; however, it should be noted that the Library of Congress may not be the actual rights holder but has permission to make the work available. These materials may be still be used but it may be worth putting in the syllabus so students know.
• Are the mash-up sources you are using available for public use within Blackboard?
  In general, most anything added from a Blackboard mash-up is available for public use. Some are paid membership sources like NBC Learn (which is available for all TTU eRaider account holders) and Flickr. YouTube videos are usable if you are able to download it. Any video from YouTube that is not available for use will not be downloadable and will tell you so.
• Are you citing the information correctly for use within your course?
  Often an item is able to be used as long as a proper citation is noted such as you would in a term paper. Various style guides are available with instructions on how to do this correctly such as APA, MLA or Chicago. Also, websites such as the Library of Congress will tell you if a work, book, image, video clip, etc., is in the public domain and how to cite it in a work you are creating. The Texas Tech Library has two guides dealing with copyright:
  • Copyright for Online Teaching
  • Copyright by Course Material Type
• Tool for Digital Storytelling
  A good resource with tools for digital storytelling is 18 Free Digital Storytelling Tools for Teachers and Students.

Many instructors and instructional designers balk at the use of too much media. But if you take the time to build a pool of reliable sources, know the rules, and cite things correctly, there is no reason why you can't create a stimulating course for all learning types. You'll end up with minimum stress and maximum security in the knowledge that the materials are valid and available for use.

*Note: Special thanks to TTU Librarian Camille Thomas for her valuable time and information in the review of this article. She's a great resource, too!