It may be summer time, but it really doesn't feel much like it. Why, you might ask? Well, because I am working WAY too much!! This week, I am at a conference in Cold Springs, Kentucky. I have been extremely surprised at the quality of the sessions I have attended thus far. My goal was to blog about each session while it was going on, but I have had some proxy issues. So far I have attended an Introduction to Photoshop, a session on Web 2.0--very cool!! And now I am sitting in a session titled "Free Software for Teachers". How exciting!
So for now, I will shed some light on a few FREE software sites for teachers that are being highlighted in this session. Just to clarify...I am only sharing. I have had no experience with these and am simply a messenger :-) After all, if you are aware, then you are responsible to pass it on!! Enjoy!!
Hot Potatos-- http://hotpot.uvic.ca/
The Hot Potatoes suite includes six applications, enabling you to create interactive multiple-choice, short-answer, jumbled-sentence, crossword, matching/ordering and gap-fill exercises for the World Wide Web. Hot Potatoes is not freeware, but it is free of charge for those working for publicly-funded non-profit-making educational institutions, who make their pages available on the web. Other users must pay for a licence. Check out the Hot Potatoes licensing terms and pricing on the Half-Baked Software Website.
Anim8or--http://www.anim8or.com/main/index.html
This is freeware character animation and 3D modeling software.
Google Docs--http://docs.google.com
You know Google...they just keep coming up with GREAT ideas and educators keep figuring out ways to incorporate them into their lesson plans, assessments, etc. Google Docs is free web-based word processor and spreadsheet, and presentation software which allow you share and collaborate online. How great would this be for conferencing with students on their writing?? Plus, it is absolutely FREE!! All you need is a Google account. Go take a tour...Google: Google Docs Tour for more information.
WINK--http://debugmode.com/wink
Wink is a Tutorial and Presentation creation software, primarily aimed at creating tutorials on how to use software (like a tutor for MS-Word/Excel etc). Using Wink you can capture screenshots, add explanations boxes, buttons, titles etc and generate a highly effective tutorial for your users.
A very cool feature is the audio so you can explain your presentation. It is also multi-lingual (se' habla espanol?).
Audacity--http://audacity.sourceforge.net
Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. This is very simple to use and can record directly from the built-in microphone in your computer. Once the audio is saved, it can be exported as a wav or MP3 file. Very handy for your latest Podcast of your latest science lesson!!
Open Office--http://www.openoffice.org
Basically it is what it says it is...Open Office. The productivity tools from Office area available for a free download including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database. It can be saved to a CD or flash drive for use on any PC.
Google Sketchup--http://sketchup.google.com
You guessed it!! Google has done it again! This is by far the coolest FREE software I have seen yet. How many times have you tried to teach or learn Geometry (me? too many to remember). This program offers an authentic way to engage your students in how geometry is used in the world!! Design a city, sketch out a house plan, the list goes on and on. There is a special section just for K-12 education for specific ways Sketch-up can be used and implemented in your classroom!! Click here for an example an elementary student's use of Sketch Up--http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dc837t9h_71f68nnbcb
GIMP--http://www.gimp.org
For those of us who can't afford Photoshop, GIMP is a nice and user friendly image manipulation download. I have yet to use it, but plan to as soon as I get home :-) Another free image manipulation site mentioned here is paint.net (getpaint.net). Both have tutorials and look very easy to use. Have fun!!
I am totally stoked about these FREE options for teachers to authentically engage their students in content while integrating technology in their lesson plans.
Feel free to comment on any of your successes or challenges while using these. Also, if you have any other FREE software, please SHARE with us!!
Thanks!
S~
