Week 6: Interactive History with Smithsonian Open Access

Intro

Welcome to week 6, where I'll talk about Smithsonian Open Access. This is another fantastic free resource I learned about in this course. I chose it because it's a bit different than some of the other resources I've talked about. It has a focus on history and visual media. From my exploring, I could get lost on this site for hours because it is one visual rabbit hole after another. This would be great for libraries and can help influence students to create more visual projects and flex their creative muscles!

Cost

Smithsonian Open Access is free to use! Unlike other sites that have free options but hide other components behind a paywall, everything on this resource is free. There's no catch, no need to make a profile or start a free trial. You can start browsing and never stop.

Features

The best feature Smithsonian Open Access has to offer is the Explore tab! It's a visual landscape filled with thousands of images from the Smithsonian. All of these images are gathered into curated collections that students and librarians can browse. The collections will appeal to students of all ages because they are about diverse topics such as art, history, music, animals, and so much more.These collections are mainly images, but they include important information that can help you discover more about the art and artists. The images often have descriptions, giving you context as to why it was created, how it's been used, and how it became part of the Smithsonian collection. These collections also tell a story because sometimes images from totally different decades and mediums are brought together. Since it's February, and Valentine's in fresh in my brain, I noticed a collection that compiled art that includes a heart motif, which shows the range this website offers. There's a general search and multiple categories one can search under: Art & Design, History & Culture, and Science & Nature. Within those categories, there are hundreds of topics to choose from. For example, there are galleries dedicated to people such as Martin Luther King Jr., as well as ones that are more specific and curated such as galleries dedicated to artwork that features hats, or resources about female astronauts. 

Smithsonian Open Access also has other features such as research guides, podcasts, information about their in-person exhibits, and resources for students. There are resources for all ages, but the heaviest focus on middle to high school students.

The other most important feature is a page dedicated towards educators. There are multiple resource categories such as: Early Learning, Art & Design, Social Studies & Civics, and Science & Nature. Each of these categories have high quality videos, activities, and resources that are ready to use for school library classrooms. This provides a perfect balance of visual media. These videos are fun and engaging and help bridge the learning gap.

Accessibility:

Smithsonian Open Access tries to make their site accessible. The images typically have written descriptions, the videos have captions, and the site is pretty easy to navigate. The only issue I could foresee is users getting overwhelmed with an abundance of information options. This digital resource felt like multiple resources packed into one and has everything a person could need, so it might be hard to filter out what's necessary and what's not as relevant for your needs. 

Use in a School Library

In order to teach students about helpful, trustworthy resources, librarians could encourage students to explore Smithsonian Open Access during class. The students would choose topics they are interested in and explore the corresponding collections. This could inspire them to make displays or collages of their own, or to create their own gallery for another class. This is another situation where it's important for classroom teachers to communicate with their school librarians. The two should work together and use similar sites and resources in both environments so the students can hone their skills and become well-versed digital explorers. School librarians can also use the activities or videos provided in the educator section. These could be used as additional resources for lessons. For example, Smithsonian Open Access has such an abundance of options and resources that they even have educational online games! I found this one about the coral reef for students in grades 3-8: Smithsonian Learning Lab: Secrets of the Sea. This game would be a great accompaniment to an existing lesson. I think it's important that these resources help librarians and are great frames, but do not do all the work for librarians. 

Conclusion:

If you're looking to introduce students to helpful resources and encourage their creativity and curiosity, Smithsonian Open Access is a fantastic addition to your library! This free site can be used in a variety of ways without getting old. Students will have fun navigating it and will enjoy the various learning options of image galleries, videos, articles, activities, and online games.