Open-Source Resources: Images

Finding high-quality, copyright-safe images can be a challenge for educators who want to create engaging and visually appealing lessons. Open-source image libraries provide a solution by offering free, accessible visuals that educators can legally use, adapt, and share. These open resources not only save time but also promote responsible digital use among students. Whether for classroom slides, student projects, or online courses, open image platforms empower teachers to enhance instruction through meaningful visual supports.

Openverse – openverse.org

Openverse is a powerful search engine for finding openly licensed images and audio across platforms like Flickr, Wikimedia Commons, and more. It hosts millions of high-quality, Creative Commons–licensed materials that educators can freely use, adapt, and share. Teachers can use Openverse to locate visuals for slide decks, digital storytelling, or student projects while reinforcing lessons on proper attribution and digital citizenship. Its filter options make it easy to identify license types and ensure classroom-safe, copyright-compliant use.

License: Various Creative Commons (CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC0, etc.) 

Features:

• Searches across millions of images and audio clips licensed for free use.

• Built by WordPress, replacing the former Creative Commons search.

• Filters by license type, attribution, and source.

Value for Educators:

Teachers can safely find high-quality visuals for presentations, projects, and student materials while modeling digital citizenship by teaching proper attribution practices.

Pics4Learning – pics4learning.com

Pics4Learning offers a collection of classroom-safe images curated specifically for K–12 education. All images are free for educational use under a custom noncommercial license, allowing teachers and students to use them without worry. The platform’s simplicity and focus on age-appropriate visuals make it ideal for projects, multimedia presentations, and school websites. It’s particularly valuable for helping young students learn to incorporate visuals responsibly without navigating complex copyright rules.

License: Custom educational license (free for classroom and educational use). 

Features:

• Specifically curated for K–12 classrooms.

• No need for attribution or sign-up.

• Age-appropriate, classroom-safe images covering academic subjects.

Value for Educators:

 Ideal for student reports, digital storytelling, or slide decks where students can confidently use copyright-safe imagery without worrying about inappropriate content.

Creative Commons Education Image Collection – creativecommons.org

Public Domain and Creative Commons Video Collections, such as those curated by the AACC OER Video Guide, compile educational and stock videos that are free to use, remix, and adapt. Many are released under CC0 or CC BY licenses, offering flexibility for lesson creation and student projects. These clips are valuable for multimedia assignments, allowing teachers and students to legally edit or remix footage for presentations, digital storytelling, or instructional media.

License: CC BY-NC 4.0 

Features:

• Around 500 high-resolution educational images.

• Curated specifically for teaching materials and textbooks.

Value for Educators:

Perfect for teachers developing lesson materials, infographics, or course visuals that require high-quality, legally shareable imagery.

Conclusion

Open image resources make it possible to bring creativity and clarity to the classroom without the stress of navigating complex copyright laws. By integrating these freely licensed visuals into lessons and student projects, teachers can model ethical media use while enriching instruction with high-quality content. Embracing open-source images isn’t just about convenience. It’s about fostering visual literacy and empowering students to become thoughtful digital creators.