10 Unusual Sources Of Inspiration for eLearning
We all need inspiration at times. Here are ten websites where you can seek, browse and hopefully find inspiration to kickstart your creativity. Click the underlined name of the source to access each site.
1. Visual.ly
Visual.ly is a site for exploring, sharing and creating visualizations. There are all styles and types here, so you need to sift through to find what you like. But it’s worth it. The variety of visual thinking is fantastic. Scroll down on the home page to see the latest or explore in many ways through their filters.
2. Information Aesthetics
If you crave a wide variety of ideas for conceiving information graphics, check out the sundry visuals at this site, where “form follows data.” You’ll find a wealth of imagery and unique ways to conceptualize information.
3. Note and Point
A gallery of well-designed Keynote and PowerPoint presentations reside on this site. Whether you implement or conceive visuals, you can get ideas for eLearning course design here.
4. Webrangers
We adults are too serious. Glean ideas from the wonderful games buried at the U.S. National Park Service site—Webrangers. Find inspiration in the creative treatments, then use it as a springboard for approaches to adult learning. (FYI: Many of these games were designed by my friends at d’Vinci Interactive.)
5. XPLANE
XPLANE excels at visualizing processes, procedures and information. Check out their portfolio for ideas on how to transform abstract concepts into concrete forms.
6. Poynter Online
Bring storytelling and other journalistic skills to your courses. Poynter Online teaches this and more through their articles, eLearning courses, webinars and seminars.
7. The Daily Script
If you get stuck on scriptwriting for video, try browsing through the dozens of scripts housed on this minimalist site.
8. Digital Photography School
This site has loads of advice and inspiration related to photography, which often serves as the main media element in online courses. The school has everything from technical articles about cameras to photo galleries from readers.
9. TED
Everyone knows about the TED presentations, but they aren’t all as inspiring as this one. Check out Jill Nolte’s Stroke of Insight to appreciate the amazing human spirit and brain.
10. COLOURlovers
Need inspiration for a color palette? COLOURlovers lets you create palettes and patterns, provides palette ideas, color trends, a variety of tools and is basically overflowing with the wonder of color.
Wow, the websites are great. Thanks so much.
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Connie Malamed Reply:
September 29th, 2010 at 10:51 am
So glad you find them inspiring. I wasn’t sure if anyone else would but me =)
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These are terrific!
Thank you for compiling and sharing!
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this is a great, and thankfully short list – will spread the word!
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This is a great list. I love the WebRangers site. THanks for this.
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First link redirects to main NYT site now, instead of the visualization lab.
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Connie Malamed Reply:
September 1st, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Thanks, Rob. I appreciate you bringing this to my attention. It looks like the NY Times visualization lab isn’t happening any more … at least not in that form. I’ve replaced it with a link to Visual.ly where you can find an endless supply of visualizations for inspiration. (We’re referring to the first link, that now works.)
Connie
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This is fantastic! Some of the topics you and others covered at Presentation Summit and more — in one place where I can dive in at my leisure. I feel like a kid in a toy store AND a candy store! Thank you for sharing what you’ve found.
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Connie Malamed Reply:
October 11th, 2011 at 9:50 am
Glad this has made you so happy, Victoria! Great meeting you at the Presentation Summit.
Connie
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This is such a great list, thank you. Lots of inspiration!
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