Online Resources Recommended by AP Teachers
We surveyed AP Art History teachers about what online resources they recommend, and the list below comes directly from their responses. The list also includes teacher descriptions of the resources. This is not a comprehensive list, nor is it an endorsement of any of these resources by the College Board.
- Instructional videos; online texts; images; links to related resources; instructional resources for teachers
- While this site has the same content as found on Khan Academy, materials are “organized differently to help students discover additional topics and make new connections.” The site also includes free downloadable PDFs to AP Art History materials, links to online resources, teaching images on Flickr, a teaching and learning commons, and tutorials to help teachers and students create their own “Smarthistory-type” videos.
The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
- Online texts; images; chronologies
- Extensive collection of accessible essays on key art historical themes, movements, and artists, with image collections of objects in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Essays often reference and provide links to digitized catalogues and books that students can use for additional reading or research-based assignments.
- Self-directed student practice
- AP-style multiple-choice questions covering much of the curriculum and organized in AP Art History unit structure. Easy to assign, assess, and review student data, and the platform allows students to receive feedback on their responses.
ARCHES: At-Risk Cultural Heritage Education Series at Smarthistory
- Online texts; links to additional resources
- National Endowment for the Humanities funded this collection of Smarthistory resources that complement the AP Art History curriculum. This series addresses the ethical and political issues involved in collection and protection of art from all around the world, including many sites and monuments covered in the curriculum. Provides students with a contemporary connection and different way of thinking about art history.
- Instructional videos; artist interviews; online texts; resource pages for teachers
- Provides video profiles of contemporary artists, including many in the AP Art History curriculum, and short online articles about themes and topics in art. Most segments are 5-10 minutes and can be used in class to spur discussion or used as outside assignments. Curated playlists also combine resources that explore specific questions or themes in art and culture.
- Instructional videos; interactive assignments
- Includes short videos on important works of art including several in the AP Art History curriculum, in addition to a wide range of fun, insightful, and informative videos addressing topics like “Why you don’t like art history,” “How to visit an art museum,” “Fierce Women of Art, parts 1 and 2,” and “Art Cooking: Dutch and Flemish Still Life Painting.” Engaging resource that students will enjoy.
Art Through Time: A Global View, Annenberg Learner
- Online texts; instructional videos for students; images; links to related resources
- Online art history course organized thematically and incorporating global art content from all periods. Each unit includes 30-minute video (with images and transcript), suggested discussion questions and art comparisons. Individual videos can be assigned to provide background or connect to class lecture, and instructional resources can be adapted for use in class.
Artstor $
- Image collections; online texts; resource pages for teachers
- Artstor offers limited access to free images from museums around the world and art history articles. Additional instructional resources on the AP Art History curriculum are available for teachers whose schools subscribe to Artstor/Jstor.
Interactive Art History (curated set of 360cities panoramas) at the University of Nebraska Omaha
- Virtual tours and 360° panoramas of art historical monuments, sites, and museums
- The 360cities website offers a broad range of virtual tours and interactive panoramas around the world. This site at the University of Nebraska Omaha has filtered and organized those related to art history according to period and geography, which makes it easy for students to use.
- Instructional videos; online texts; links to related resources; student self-quizzes; discussion questions
- Offers short informative videos by Smarthistory.org creators, Drs. Beth Harris and Steven Zucker, and articles by contributing art historians on each object in the curriculum. Materials are organized in units based on the AP Art History curriculum, which makes it easy to assign students. The website is easy to navigate and accessible on all digital devices.
$ = May require a fee = Account creation needed