By Jeff Schwartz, Instructional Designer
As of this writing, there are 999 databases available for free to DU faculty, staff, and students through the library. Needless to say, that’s a lot of databases to keep track of. In the coming weeks and months, the OTL blog will be shining a light on some of the most useful and noteworthy databases. To read the previous post in this series, which focused on the image database ARTstor, click here.
In this post, we’ll focus on streaming video platforms. There are currently 45 streaming video databases. Some of these databases are highly specific, such as the BBC Landmark Video Collection, which features nature documentaries like Planet Earth, or Metropolitan Opera on Demand, which, as you might expect, provides access to performances from the Metropolitan Opera.
If you have specific subject matter needs, I’d recommend looking through the collection of streaming video databases. For the purposes of this post, I’m going to focus on general databases that could be used in a variety of courses, including the humanities, STEM, business, and law.
One thing to bear in mind is that you have the option to create user accounts with all of the databases listed below. These accounts sometimes unlock certain features, like the ability to create customized clips or playlists. However, students shouldn’t need to create their own accounts (unless they want to); they will be able to view these videos by clicking on the links you provide them and using their DU login credentials.
Alexander Street Media
Why should you use it?
- An extensive, diverse collection of titles
- Accessible user experience, including searchable transcripts, videos with closed-captioning
- Integrates easily with Canvas
What does it have?
- 66,000 titles
- Subjects include anthropology, business, feature film, history, music, science, and more.
What are the features?
- Search function, which works best for subject searches, rather than specific titles
- “Channels” organized into subjects like “art and architecture” and “world history”
- “Collections” from organizations like PBS, BBC, and 60 Minutes
- Create and share customizable clips
- Citation software
How does it work with Canvas?
- Embed videos to Canvas pages through the “Apps” button on the Rich Content Editor. For guidance on embedding or linking videos within Canvas, consult this Canvas Community Page.
- Embed codes and permalinks are available for full videos or clips directly through the Alexander Street Media website.
Films on Demand
Why should you use it?
- A broad range of titles, including full-length films and pre-made clips
- Closed captioning available
- Integrates easily with Canvas
What does it have?
- 43,961 titles and 319,531 segments (video clips)
- Subjects include: Archival films and newsreels, Computer Science and IT, Sociology, World Languages, and more
What are the features?
- General search function
- Content from Ken Burns, ABC News, HBO, Frontline, Modern Marvels, and others
- Create and share customizable clips
- Transcripts
- Citation software
How does it work with Canvas?
- Embed videos to Canvas pages through the “Apps” button on the Rich Content Editor. For guidance on embedding or linking videos within Canvas, consult this Canvas Community Page.
- Sharing via email, embed codes (including customizable video sizes), and permalinks available for full videos or clips directly through the Films on Demand website.
Kanopy
Why should you use it?
- A mix of contemporary and classic titles, along with mainstream feature films
- Engaging user experience with detailed synopses, subject tags, an effective search function, and closed captioned videos
- The ability to create a course-specific playlist
- Integrates easily with Canvas
What does it have?
- More than 30,000 titles
- Subjects include: Classic and world cinema, Global Studies & Languages, Health, Sciences, and more
What are the features?
- Search function (works with titles, subjects, people, filmmakers)
- Videos from the Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, Kino Lorber, PBS, and more
- Create and share customizable playlists and clips
- Transcripts
- Citation software
How does it work with Canvas?
- Use permalinks or embed codes to integrate within a Canvas page. For guidance on embedding or linking videos within Canvas, consult this Canvas Community Page.
- Sharing via social media, email, embed codes (including customizable video sizes), and permalinks available for full videos or clips directly through the Kanopy website.
Swank Digital Campus
Why should you use it?
- The ability to legally share videos that aren’t available on other library streaming platforms. To request a film through Swank, follow the instructions in this guide.
- A mix of titles, including a variety of feature films
- Simple user interface
What does it have?
- Videos requested by DU faculty for specific courses
- Feature films in a variety of genres, as well as documentaries
What are the features?
- Search by title or person
- Filter results by rating, license status, foreign language, release decade, subjects & themes
- Trailers
- Closed captions
- Some titles have to be specifically requested, others are viewable by anyone
- Licenses for titles are valid for one year; after that, titles have to be renewed
How does it work with Canvas?
- Use permalinks to integrate with a Canvas page. View this Canvas Community Page for more information.
Needless to say, these four databases just scratch the surface of what is available to faculty and students. You can consult the library’s Streaming Media Lib Guide to learn more about these and other streaming video databases. And if you’re interested in talking through how to incorporate streaming video into your courses, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Instructional Design team here at the OTL.
