A (psuedo) random sample of educational content resources available off the Internet...
Educators don't necessarily have the time or expertise necessary to create their Virtual Classroom from scratch. Nor should they. You wouldn't expect to have to manufacture every nail or rip every beam to build your house and educators can't expect to create an entire virtual world in which to teach. Web3DBooks paves the way for educational content developers to create and make content available to enrich educational experiences anywhere. Consider this sample of 3D content libraries and repositories already available on the Web...
Educational Content Ideas from OLPC. OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) is in the process of compiling an educational Content repository...
eMINTS. eMINTS provides a research-based approach to organizing instruction and can be implemented in any subject area at any level.
eMINTS Database of 3D molecular models (Chemistry). Here's dopamine...
3D Content (Engineering objects). This site provides tons of CAD models and drawings for download. It's more geared toward engineering than education, but it's not a far leap to imagine similar content repositories for teaching (e.g.) math and science...
Google Sketchup. About seven years ago, a small team of big-thinkers set out to make 3D modeling software that anyone could use...
A Google Sketchup Model. This model provides students with a 3D conceptual model of conic sections.
Sketchup Science Models. Atoms.
Sketchup Social Studies: The Acropolis.. This model was made by a student as a project. Re-used it can now open up avenues of exploration for learners around the world...
Google Sketchup Education. "Google is committed to providing students, educators and institutions with low-cost or no-cost software licenses and resources."
Google Sketchup Warehouse. Repository of sketchup models and resources.
Daz 3D. Provides a wide range of Poser~based content (such as might be used in Second Life).
Content Paradise. A catalog of content available for 3D and 2D applications.
e frontier ~~ Home of Poser. 3D development software for character animation.
Blender. Open Source software that can be used to create all this stuff.
Elephants Dream. "The world's first open movie, made entirely with open source graphics software such as Blender, and with all production files freely available to use however you please, under a Creative Commons license" (emphasis added). Again, not so much educational but the point is that 3D content is made readily available for re-use. For free. And under explicit license.
Creative Commons. Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from "All Rights Reserved" to "Some Rights Reserved."
All assets and material on this website are under continuous development by Nick Nagel and are copyright© 2003-2008, all rights reserved.
