New Streaming Video Collections @ the Libraries

The days of struggling with video playing paraphernalia in front of a lecture hall full of student are waning. University of Alberta faculty, students and staff now have online access to thousands of new videos thanks to recently acquired subscriptions to the video streaming services Kanopy and Criterion-on-Demand. Along with U of A Libraries’ pre-existing streaming video databases, the U of A community can access videos on a multitude of subjects with a few quick clicks of the mouse. Better yet, course instructors can post links to videos from these services to eClass to share with students.

If you have never explored the world of streaming video available through U of A Libraries, here are some services worth checking out:

Kanopy - This interdisciplinary streaming service offers instructors and students an extensive video collection include access to silent films starring Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd; classics of world cinema from the Criterion Collection/Janus Films (including films from Ingmar Bergman, Fellini, Ozu and Truffaut); performance videos from the top names in theatre and dance; and a plethora of instructional videos on topics such as business management, computer programming and other career related skills.

Here’s what some of our professors have to say about Kanopy:

"[Kanopy] streaming service was excellent - and (this is key) immediate. You sent me the link right away, I watched the film, played part of it in my class the following week, and then posted a link on eClass."
- Siobhan Byrne, PhD.  Assistant Professor, Dept. of Political Science

"Kanopy has an impressive array of videos in the area of counselling and psychotherapy. The collection covers key approaches in psychotherapy, demonstrated by well-known therapists in the field. I can certainly see myself using some of the videos in my counselling classes."
- Jessica Van Vliet, Ph.D., R.Psych. Associate Professor, Dept. of Educational Psychology

Criterion-on-Demand - From Minnelli to Fosse and Altman to the Coen Brothers, this resource allows users to access over 1,900 documentary and feature films from around the world including a large collection of contemporary Hollywood films. Please note that it requires that Microsoft Silverlight be installed on your computer to watch videos.

Alexander Street Press Collections - Alexander Street Press is a streaming video provider with curated video collections on a variety of subjects and disciplines. Among their offerings:

• Nursing Education in Video
• Rehabilitation Education in Video
• Counselling and Therapy in Video
• Education in Video
• Alexander Street Press Anthropology
• Dance in Video
• Theatre in Video
• Opera in Video
• American History in Video
• World History in Video 

Ask library staff for more information on these and other streaming video resources. Watch University of Alberta Libraries’ workshop page for upcoming sessions on how to use these wonderful video resources to enhance your classes.