Free images for educational use are the topic of our blog post today!
Public domain images are free from copyright restrictions, allowing us the freedom to use, modify, and distribute these visual assets without seeking permission or attributing the original creator. They are hidden gems in the vast digital universe, offering educators a wealth of imagery spanning history, cultures, nature, sciences, and much more.
The beauty of these images lies not only in their freedom of use but also in their capacity to engage students, enliven lessons, and stimulate creativity. From illustrating historical events to providing context for complex scientific concepts, or inspiring creative storytelling and artistic endeavors, these images can transform and enrich our educational materials.
However, the use of public domain images isn’t just about enhancing learning materials; it’s also an excellent opportunity to teach students about digital citizenship, responsible online behavior, and the respect for intellectual property.
In this post, we will explore the world of public domain images, offering tips on how to navigate this resource, and exploring creative and meaningful ways to incorporate them into your teaching and learning practice.
[Related posts: digital art maker tools and free icons and clip arts for teachers.]
Tips for using public domain images in education
Using public domain images can be an excellent resource for educational purposes. These images are copyright-free, meaning that educators and students can use them without having to worry about copyright infringement. Here are some tips for using public domain images in education:
- Understand What Public Domain Means: Public domain refers to creative materials that are not protected by intellectual property laws such as copyright, trademark, or patent laws. Anyone can use these images for any purpose, whether it’s commercial or educational.
- Use Reliable Sources: There are many websites that offer public domain images. Some reliable sources include Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, Unsplash, Pexels, and the New York Public Library’s Digital Collections. Always double-check the copyright status before using an image.
- Teach Digital Citizenship: When using public domain images, it’s a great opportunity to teach students about digital citizenship and respect for intellectual property rights. Even though public domain images are free to use, it’s still a good practice to attribute the source when possible.
- Think Creatively: Public domain images can be used in a multitude of ways in the classroom. They can be used in presentations, reports, creative writing prompts, art projects, and more. Encourage students to think creatively about how these images can enhance their work.
- Check for Any Restrictions: While public domain images are generally free to use without permission or giving credit, some sites or images might still have certain restrictions or request attribution. Always read the fine print before using an image.
- Always Attribute When Possible: To be on the safe side and to acknowledge the creativity of the original creators, it’s a good practice to attribute public domain images whenever possible, even if not legally required.
- Consider Quality: Not all images in the public domain may be of high quality. Choose clear, high-resolution images for your projects.
- Integrate into Technology: If you’re using tech tools like Google Docs, Slides, or Book Creator in your classroom, you can easily integrate public domain images. Most of these tools offer an option to upload images directly into your project.
Free Images for Educational Use
Here are some of the best online platforms where you can access free images to use for educational purposes:
1- Photos for Class
As its name indicates, Photos for Class provides access to a huge library of photos to be used in classrooms and in educational settings. Photos for Class provides provides the following features:
- “Age Appropriate Images – All images are appropriate for the school setting, thanks to Flickr and Pixabay SafeSearch and our proprietary filters.
- Automatic Citation – Downloaded images automatically cite the author and the image license terms.
- Creative Commons – All photos shown are, to the best of our (and Flickr’s / Pixabay’s) knowledge, licensed by Creative Commons for public use.”
2- Pics4Learning
Pics4Learning is another great resource that provides free images for educational use.’Teachers and students can use the copyright-friendly photos and illustrations for classroom projects, web sites, videos, portfolios, or any other projects in an educational setting.’
You can search for images using Pics4Learning search functionality or browse its collections which includes History, Music, Oceans, Objects, Plants, Animals, MAPS, Culture, Holidays, Geography, space, Countries, Education and more. Also, note that Pics4learning is a user-generated platform meaning you too can contribute your own images to help other teachers and students use them in their projects.
3- Pixabay
Another great resource of free images to use in education. Pixabay hosts over 2 million high quality stock photos, videos, illustrators, sound effects, vectors, ad music. As of writing these lines, Pixabay prides itself for making its content ‘safe to use without asking for permission or giving credit to the artist – even for commercial purposes.’
To download media from Pixabay in full resolution you need to sign up. Pixabay, as is the case with google, provides SafeSearch feature allowing you to block inappropriate or explicit content from search results.
4- Pexels
Pexels offers you access to some of the best free stock photos for educational use. As of this moment, Pexel’s license guidelines are:
- ‘All photos and videos on Pexels are free to use.
- Attribution is not required. Giving credit to the photographer or Pexels is not necessary but always appreciated.
- You can modify the photos and videos from Pexels. Be creative and edit them as you like.’
5- Flaticon
Flaticon offers over 6 million vector icons and stickers available in various formats including SVG, EPS, PSD, and BASE64 formats. Flaticon allows users to edit the colour of icons and change their sizes and the best thing of all it provides add-ons for Google Docs, Slides, and Spreadsheets allowing you to easily insert icons into your Google Workspace applications.
Note: An earlier version of this post was published in 2018. Due to the evolving nature of the field of technology in general and educational technology in particular, I updated this post and added new resources. I hope you will find it useful.
6- Unsplash
provides access to a huge library of free re-usable photos. You can browse images by category (e.g., Wallpapers, architecture, experimental, nature, fashion, film, food and drink, and more) or your the search the box to search for specific images.
“Unsplash grants you an irrevocable, nonexclusive, worldwide copyright license to download, copy, modify, distribute, perform, and use photos from Unsplash for free, including for commercial purposes, without permission from or attributing the photographer or Unsplash. This license does not include the right to compile photos from Unsplash to replicate a similar or competing service.”
Final thoughts
Navigating the realm of public domain images is akin to unearthing a treasure trove of visual aids that can revolutionize the educational landscape. Not only do these resources alleviate concerns about copyright infringement, but they also foster a spirit of innovation and responsible digital citizenship among learners.
By tapping into the wellspring of historical, cultural, and scientific visuals available, educators can breathe new life into their lesson plans and encourage students to embark on creative pursuits. Moreover, educating about the ethical use of these images can leave an indelible mark on students’ understanding of intellectual property.
