This past week I was introduced to some really fantastic web sites that I would like to share. Several of the PDC's recent workshops have dealt with issues of web and course design, and perhaps some will find these sites as useful (and, in some cases, entertaining) as I did.
The first one is "The World's Worst Web Site." While few would want to have that monicker tagged to their site, this site shows exactly what NOT to do. Blinking backgrounds, scrolling title bars, accessibility issues, obnoxious color schemes, frame upon frame upon frame...this web site has it all. In addition, the visual chaos is accompanied by a looping, electronic, rendition of the William Tell Overture! WARNING!!!! This web site can only be taken in small doses without being driven totally crazy!
The next is the "morgueFile." Self-advertised as a site "Where photo reference lives" and a "Public Image Archive for Creatives by Creatives," the site provides free images that can be used in your own work. Per the morgueFile free license users are allowed to remix (or alter) the image and use it commerically without attribution as long as you don't claim ownership of the image in its original state or try to sell, license, distribute, etc the image without alteration. What a deal! This means that one can definitely use these images in their courses. In addition to fantastic images, there is a "Classroom" link on the site that teaches those of us who can use a little help how to take better pictures. Personally, I believe that this site is the ultimate in open courseware. Not only does it provide us with free images, but it also has a teaching module to teach us how to take pictures. The site is well-balanced and quite beautiful. I suggest that you check it out if for no other reason than to see some really amazing photography.
