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| The following have been reviewed and are recommended for your consideration. They are Freeware, Shareware, or Webware. This list is reviewed and updated regularly. Relatively NEW items have a GREEN background. |
New - January 2010 - Prezi
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Audio:
Audacity |
You should try this open-source program because it's free (and available for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux), but you will stick with it because it's a simple audio editor that offers ample extras, such as mixing tools and audio effects. Audacity isn't just for recording streaming audio; it can record anything coming into your computert. There is plenty of help and links to a free MP3 encoder that works with Audacity. |
SKYPE |
VOIP is here and it works very well indeed. This program for Linux, Mac OSX, and Windows allows you to phone any other SKYPE user using your computer and the internet. Voice quality is excellent. This is a must if you want to talk to someone who has a computer without using the phone. |
Browsers:
Firefox |
Firefox allows you to browse faster, more safely and more efficiently than with any other browser. Firefox imports your Favorites, settings and other information. This is a fast and feature-rich application, it blocks popups, allows for tabbed browsing, has built-in Google, and RSS integration. You will love it. |
Opera |
The most full-featured Internet power tool on the market, Opera includes pop-up blocking, tabbed browsing, integrated searches, and advanced functions like Opera's groundbreaking E-mail program, RSS Newsfeeds and IRC chat. And because we know that our users have different needs, you can customize the look and content of your Opera browser with a few clicks of the mouse. |
Google Chrome |
Very fast new browser from Google. It does a great job of supporting the Google online applications. |
Graphics:
Picnik |
This is a very rich online photo editing program. It has a free version and a (for a fee) Premium version. |
Cartoon Machine |
Cartoon Machine allows you to create online cartoons with a reasonable collection of objects, backgrounds, characters, and props. Finished cartoons are available online, or can be captured by a program like 2020 for inclusion in an eRoK. |
Gliffy |
Completely ONLINE means of creating and sharing drawings including flowcharts and brainstorming. |
Inkscape |
Inkscape is an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, Freehand, CorelDraw, or Xara X.. It imports formats such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and others and exports PNG as well as multiple vector-based formats. |
Picasa |
Picasa is software (from Google) that lets you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. You can do many of the critical edits that you need. You can also make web photo-albums, and web collage pages. |
Pixer |
Completely ONLINE image editor. It may be all you need. |
PhotoFiltre |
This is a perfect tool for anyone with some basic familiarity with digital imaging who wants to avoid getting into the complexity of Photoshop - this software does almost everything you would need to do (except layers). It is available in various languages. |
JAlbum |
This is spectacular software that makes web photo albums from digital images. JAlbum is one of the easiest and most powerful tools you will ever find. JAlbum runs on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. With JAlbum you control the look of the final album. Making an album is a drag and drop plus a button click. There are many beautiful design templates to choose from. JAlbum will process and optimize your images, make the index page and preview your album. |
Learning Management Systems:
Drupal |
Drupal is an open source content management platform.Equipped with a powerful blend of features, Drupal can support a variety of websites ranging from personal weblogs to large community-driven websites. |
Moodle |
Moodle is a course management system (CMS) - a free, Open Source software package designed using sound pedagogical principles, to help educators create effective online learning communities. You can download and use it on any computer you have handy. If you have the financial and human resources to support a server, and want local control over the design and content of your LMS, Moodle may be for you. You are reminded that in Saskatchewan any K-12 educator can use Blackboard with absolutely no local costs. |
Manhattan |
The Manhattan Virtual Classroom is a fast, stable and effective course management system that runs on Linux and other Unix-like systems. It's written entirely in the C programming language (fast! - light hardware requirements) and is 100% database-free (no MySQL administration, no tuning issues- simple!) |
Presentation Software (similar to PowerPoint):
Prezi |
Powerbullet Presenter is a small, simple and free program for creating presentations in the Flash™ format. You don't need any experience to create slick animated presentations by simply typing, clicking and dragging. Powerbullet Presenter is specifically designed for creating multi-page presentations that are commonly used in electronic sales brochures and catalogues, splash screens, slideshows and student projects. You can also create a self-running show, specifying delays on each page, or you can link the timing to the sound attached to each page. Your presentations can be exported as an HTML page with an embedded SWF (Flash) file or as an executeable file which you can run on any Windows PC. |
Powerbullet Presenter |
Powerbullet Presenter is a small, simple and free program for creating presentations in the Flash™ format. You don't need any experience to create slick animated presentations by simply typing, clicking and dragging. Powerbullet Presenter is specifically designed for creating multi-page presentations that are commonly used in electronic sales brochures and catalogues, splash screens, slideshows and student projects. You can also create a self-running show, specifying delays on each page, or you can link the timing to the sound attached to each page. Your presentations can be exported as an HTML page with an embedded SWF (Flash) file or as an executeable file which you can run on any Windows PC. |
Office Suites (similar to Microsoft Office):
ZOHO Office |
This is online software. It is very full featured and allows you to create wordprocessing, spreadsheet, presentation documents, online databases, project management and more. |
Google Docs |
An online word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation creator. |
ThinkFree Office |
The online version of this software is free and allows you to create wordprocessing, spreadsheet, and presentation documents from a browser. The program is written in JAVA. You are given a 30 meg network space to store your documents. Files work with Microsoft Office applications. |
Open Office |
OpenOffice.org is a multiplatform and multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites, the product is free to download, use, and distribute. |
Teaching and Professional Development :
Shodor |
This site is a resource for those teachers wanting to use technology in their science or math lessons. |
emTech |
This site promises, "over 15,000 resources organized by topics for teachers, students, and parents." |
Wikipedia |
This site is an encyclopedia that has been created by public editing and review. |
Wikibooks |
This is a site with a collection of open-content textbooks for various grade levels and subjects. |
Utilities:
Squeak |
This is a programming language based on SmallTalk. It is easy to learn and powerful, including 2 and 3 dimensional graphics. |
SCRATCH |
Designed for children, this freeware multimedia programming tool makes creating animated stories, video games and interactive artwork a snap. Scratch uses a simple graphical interface that lets users put together multimedia programs without any programming knowledge. |
ZAMZAR |
This is an online file conversion site. It will transform many, many types of files to the type you need. |
FreeMind |
FreeMind is a mind mapping software written in Java, and available for Win, Mac, and Linux. |
Voo2Do |
A terrific online To Do list maker. |
Web-based PDF |
As a web based service, PDF Online allows you to quickly generates PDF from your PC, Mac, or Linux, from your home, your office or anywhere in the world |
Amazon S3 |
Amazon Simple Storage Service lets you register and then store your files online so you can use them at home or school or another location - or just as a backup. |
CuteFTP |
This is a very simple, functional, and fast FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client. |
CutePDF |
CutePDF Writer allows you to convert any printable document to PDF format. It installs as a virtual printer and is available from any application that offers a `Print` option. The program is easy to use, just select the CutePDF printer and click the print button. Some advanced options are also available (scaling, multi-page layouts, print quality and more). Unlike most other free PDF creators, this one does not insert any watermarks at all |
Video:
Jumpcut |
Create a video in your browser. All you need is video and imagination. You can also post your video for others to view - or keep it private. |
VLC Player |
The VLC media player is a highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats (MPEG, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, mp3, ogg, ...) as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. There are versions for Windows and Macintosh. |
Virtual Manipulatives:
NLVM |
The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (NLVM) is an NSF supported project that began in 1999 to develop a library of uniquely interactive, web-based virtual manipulatives or concept tutorials, mostly in the form of Java applets, for mathematics instruction (K-12 emphasis). |
eMINTS |
(Grades 1-6) This is a collection of interactive math manipulative sites. Move the manipulatives to demonstrate mathematical problems and concepts. The concepts that are covered include addition, subtraction, graphing, geometry, fractions, and more. Some sites include animated tutorials, printable math manipulatives, information about Base 10 Blocks and how to use them. There are links to eThemes Resources on tessellations, pattern blocks, and tangrams. |
Web Design:
Xenu |
This application will check your website (or any URL) and report on a variety of problems, most importantly BROKEN LINKS. After installation you run the program, enter a URL and the rest is automatic. You can set perferences so that your report will be easier to comprehend. This one really helps WEB developers. |
NVU |
This is a shareware WYSIWYG web-designing tool. It has many of the same features as Dreamweaver and is available for Mac, PC, and Linux. |
Word Processing:
Writeboard |
Writeboard is similar to Writely, but has some added functionality. - Write without fear of losing or overwriting a good idea - Compare different versions of a document - Collaborate with colleagues on copy, proposals, memos, etc. Writeboard is perfect for...- Authors, journalists, PR folks, editors, and publishers - Letter writers, songwriters, poets, comedians, creatives - Students, professors, and groups collaborating on a paper |