LoyalistLibrary: Animation and Game Development: Open Educational Resources

What are Open Educational Resources?

"Open Educational Resources, or OER, refer to any teaching and learning materials that reside in the public domain or have been released under an open license, such as a Creative Commons License or GNU General Public License, that permits no-cost access, use, adaptation and redistribution with no or limited restrictions".

(Source: The OER Toolkit, Colleges Library Ontario)

Where can I find OERs for my course?

There are a variety of sources for OERs! This is only a small selection. For more, check the Library's OER Research Guide.

AMSER (Applied Math and Science Education Repository)
"AMSER (the Applied Math and Science Education Repository) is a portal of educational resources and services built specifically for use by those in Community and Technical Colleges but free for anyone to use." -- website
B.C. Open Collection (formerly BC Campus OpenEd)
"The B.C. Open Collection is a curated selection of open educational resources (OER) that can be accessed by educators in B.C. and beyond to use in the classroom, in an institutional learning management system, or on other teaching and learning platforms. All materials are openly licensed. This means they are free to use, customize, and share. The collection includes courses and textbooks, and new resources are being added all the time." -- website
Directory of Open Access Journals
"DOAJ is a community-curated online directory that indexes and provides access to high quality, open access, peer-reviewed journals." -- website
eCampus Ontario Open Textbook Library
"In partnership with BCcampus, and in the footsteps of other provincial online learning centres like OpenEd Manitoba, eCampusOntario has created this new virtual Open Textbook Library, established to offer learners a repository of resources which are licensed to be freely used, adapted, and distributed." -- website (A link to eCampus is also available at LoyalistLibrary.com, under the Collections tab.)
OER Commons
"OER Commons offers a comprehensive infrastructure for curriculum experts and instructors at all levels to identify high-quality OER and collaborate around their adaptation, evaluation, and use to address the needs of teachers and learners." -- website
Open Educational Resources Research Guide
The Loyalist Library has its own guide to open educational resources. This guide acts as a starting point, with background information, links to OER's, and more.
Open Textbook Library
"Textbooks in the Open Textbook Library are considered open because they are free to use and distribute, and are licensed to be freely adapted or changed with proper attribution." -- website

Selected OERs for Animation and Game Development

Animation Studies
"Animation Studies is the Society for Animation Studies’ double-blind peer-reviewed online journal. It is devoted to the history, theory, aesthetics and practice of animated media." -- website
British Art Studies
"British Art Studies provides an innovative space for new peer-reviewed scholarship on all aspects of British art, architecture, and visual culture in their most diverse and international contexts. It is co-published by the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, London, and the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, and reflects their dynamic research cultures." -- website
The Comics Grid: Journal of Comics Scholarship
"Founded in 2010, The Comics Grid: Journal of Comics Scholarship is an open-access, researcher-led, peer-reviewed academic journal. The journal aims to publish original and specialised contributions to the field of comics scholarship from multidisciplinary and media-specific perspectives. The Comics Grid aims to promote innovative comics scholarship where the writing is energetic and theoretically and interpretively bold, and that presents specialised knowledge in accessible and engaging forms." -- website
The Comics Journal
International Journal of Computer Games Technology
"International Journal of Computer Games Technology publishes original research and review articles on both the research and development aspects of games technology covering the whole range of entertainment computing and interactive digital media." -- website
International Journal of Serious Games
"The IJSG publishes original, peer-reviewed, scientific research articles addressing theoretical, experimental and operational aspects in the areas related to design, development, engineering, deployment and assessment of Serious Games (SGs)." -- website
Journal of Anime and Manga Studies
"The goal of the Journal of Anime and Manga Studies is to provide a space for academics, students, and independent researchers examining the field of anime, manga, cosplay, and fandom studies to access high-quality research about these topics and share their research with others." -- website
Press Start
"Press Start is an open access, peer-reviewed student journal that publishes the best undergraduate and (post)graduate research from across the multidisciplinary subject of game studies. The Editorial Board and reviewers are comprised of students and recent graduates." -- website

Graphic Design and Print Production Fundamentals
"This textbook -- written by a group of select experts with a focus on different aspects of the design process, from creation to production -- addresses the many steps of creating and then producing physical, printed, or other imaged products that people interact with on a daily basis." -- website
Introduction to Art: Design, Context, and Meaning
"Introduction to Art: Design, Context, and Meaning offers a comprehensive introduction to the world of Art. Authored by four USG faculty members with advance degrees in the arts, this textbooks offers up-to-date original scholarship. It includes over 400 high-quality images illustrating the history of art, its technical applications, and its many uses." -- website
Introduction to Art: Design, Context, and Meaning
Obelisk - A New History of Art
"Obelisk (formerly Trivium) Art History is a free, online art history textbook designed for discovery. Meet history's greatest artists, browse artwork, and explore the timeline of human creativity. Trivium offers short, conversational essays and artist biographies and encourages exploration by artistic movements, mediums and themes." -- website

Source: Roqués, C. (2022). Animation: More complex than "cartoonishly simple" [Video]. TedTalks. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUOVIBULgHw

Source: Winkler, M. (2012, December 4). What makes a hero? [Video]. TED-Ed. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Hhk4N9A0oCA

"Not just a video on the hero’s story concept – an important trope in animation – but the talk is also presented in a gloriously animated format (with the animation conducted by Kirill Yeretsky)."
(Source: The 7 Must-Watch TED Talks For Anyone Interested In Animation)

The 7 Must-Watch TED Talks For Anyone Interested In Animation
"Given the multi-faceted nature and technical intricacies of animation as a whole, it’s something that is often best learned at an intensive 3D animation school but those getting into the craft can benefit hugely from the wisdom of those already working in the profession." -- website

What are Apps?
Apps are small software applications that allow you to customize a mobile device and perform a variety of activities and functions. Some apps are free, while others are fee-based, so it is important to read terms and conditions carefully. Additionally, some apps are initially free, and then require in-app purchases if more features and functionality are desired. The Library does not endorse any fee-based apps nor it is liable for reimbursement of any apps paid for by patrons.

(Source: Austin Community College Library)

Artsy (iOS)
"Artsy is the best way to collect and discover art. Use Artsy to explore and buy over 500,000 artworks from the world’s top galleries and auction houses. Find the perfect artwork, connect with art galleries, and bid in live auctions on the go." -- website
Brushes Redux (iOS)
"Brushes Redux is a painting app designed exclusively for iOS. Rewritten from the ground up, Brushes Redux is universal — the same version runs on both your iPhone and your iPad. Move paintings between your devices and keep working wherever you go." -- website
Tayasui Sketches (iOS)
"Sketches is the most realistic, versatile and user-friendly sketching app designed for a mobile device. This exhaustive artist's toolbox helps users create dazzling sketches, cheerful paintings and smashing illustrations on the go." -- website
Typendium (iOS)
"Discover the history behind some of the world's greatest typefaces with Typendium, an elegant collection of short essays and illustrations." -- website

What is a MOOC?
MOOCs, or Massive Open Online Courses, are online courses, often offered for free or at minimal cost. Many MOOCs include audio or video lectures, assignments, readings, quizzes, and interactive forums and discussion boards. Many MOOCs are offered by large institutions, and some will offer course credits for completed MOOCs, usually for a small fee.

(Sources: MOOC.org, "Massive Open Online Course", from Wikipedia)

Animation and CGI Motion (Columbia University via EdX,)
"How do you create realistic animations? How do you predict the motion of materials? It’s key to the success of animated films to ensure (was insure) audiences believe in characters. This course will show you how to create lifelike animations focusing on the technical aspects of CGI animation and also give you a glimpse into how studios approach the art of physically-based animation." -- website
From Code to Creation: Mastering Game Programming (HP via EdX)
"Game programming involves coding and testing video games using programming languages, tools, and techniques. With the game industry continuing to expand at an unprecedented pace, game programming offers diverse career opportunities, including, development, testing, audio engineering, graphics programming, and AI programming. Get ready to make your mark in the thrilling world of Esports and Gaming!" -- website
Introduction to Virtual Reality (University of London via Coursera)
"This course will introduce you to Virtual Reality (VR). The course will teach you everything from the basics of VR- the hardware and the history of VR- to different applications of VR, the psychology of Virtual Reality, and the challenges of the medium. The course is designed for people who are new to VR as a medium. You may have experienced some virtual reality before, and may have some hardware- but this course is suitable to individuals who have never experienced VR and those who do not have much hardware- we will explain Mobile VR as well as devices such as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Introduction to Virtual Reality is the first course in the Virtual Reality Specialisation. A learner with no previous experience in Virtual Reality and/or game programming will be able to evaluate existing VR applications, and design, test, and implement their own VR experiences/games using Unity by the end of the specialisation." -- website

Smarthistory
"At Smarthistory, we’re on a mission to open museums and cultural sites up to the world, one video at a time. We’re creating world-class resources on art and cultural objects for learners from around the globe—for free. Smarthistory is the most-visited art history website in the world. Our conversational videos and essays cover art and cultural heritage that range from the paleolithic to the present." -- website

Animation and Game Development: Open Educational Resources

What are Open Educational Resources?

Where can I find OERs for my course?

Selected OERs for Animation and Game Development

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