Why Buy?

I just downloaded and tried the most recent release of OpenOffice (Version 3.2.0). Great balls of fire! This version is FAST! It loads so much faster than its predecessor.

I sometimes wonder: With productivity suites such as OpenOffice, Google Apps, and ZOHO, why is it even necessary for cash-strapped customers to buy software of this genre?

As a side-note: I read recently that in 2009 alone, 25 million malware strains were released. I can't say this often enough: Back up your data (documents, presentations,pictures, etc.)!

An antivirus program alone isn't enough to protect you. Neither is the same used in conjunction with a firewall. Seriously consider adding two more layers of protection

1. Antimalware from Malwarebytes.org
2. SUPERAntispyware

Update your antivirus program, update Windows, and update these latter two free applications regularly and conduct full system scans.

Slide: An Alternative to Animoto

Bill Gates made it such that there are at least three ways to accomplish a task in Windows. Alternatives are a good thing because we will eventually find one that we'll naturally gravitate toward. So it should be with applications.

Not long ago I mad a post about a very cool online application called Animoto. It allows for the uploading of your pics, the addition of music, and ultimately, the automation of a "digital story" of sorts. Animoto mixes the music and creates anomations, effects, and transitions for you. Don't like the results? Click on "remix" and see the results. Post the output to Facebook or other social networking sites.

Here's an alternate service: http://www.slide.com. It does much the same as Animoto, with a few added features. One of the most notable differences? A MUCH larger music library from which to select is what immediately stands out. It's just as easy to use as Animoto. Give Slide a whirl! You'll like what you see!

For the Teacher's Academy (Web 2.0)

Also located at http://bit.ly/Il0On

Web 2.0 Resources(Sites, Apps, Software, Services)Charlie Pitrolo - Technology Coordinator - Marion County SchoolsFairmont, WVAugust 12, 2009

1. ShareTabs: http://www.sharetabs.com/?cjp or http://www.sharetabs.com/teh

A site where the URLs in this session can be previewed. ShareTabs produces a graphic representation of preselected sites for students.

2. 30 Web 2.0 Applications – a narrated, web-based PowerPoint presentation presenting 30 web 2.0 applications. http://bit.ly/Mk3hp

3. Ning – Join an interest group or create a public or private one of your own. Great for collaborating and sharing ideas across geographical boundaries! http://www.ning.com

4. Learn Central- Social networking for educators. http://www.learncentral.org

5. LiveKite – Social networking (faith-based) http://www.livekite.com


6. Etherpad - the only web-based word processor that allows people to work together in real-time. Tracks revisions for later recall. Finished products can be downloaded as .doc or .pdf. files. http://etherpad.com

7. Vyew – Host your own web-based meeting complete with whiteboard, audio, and video.
http://www.vyew.com

8. Scribblar – Simple, effective, synchronous online collaboration. Very similar to Vyew (see above). http://www.scribblar.com


9. Twiddla – Similar to Vyew and Scribblar (see above) http://www.twiddla.com

10. Elluminate – Up to 3 in a meeting at no charge. Supports audio, video, white board and more. Similar to Vyewm Scribblar, and Twiddla. http://elluminate.com

11. OoVoo – Chat, video, and audio teleconferencing. Can be recorded for playback.
Free software download required. http://www.oovoo.com

12. Skype – Similar to Oovoo (see above) but without recording/playback capability.
http://www.skype.com

13. Animoto – Quickly generate 30 second slide shows from your photos. Add music (yours or theirs). http://animoto.com

14. PhotoPeach – same concept as Animoto (see above) http://photopeach.com

15. VOKI – Used to create a character or an avatar that speaks or reads text that’s been input. http://www.voki.com

16. Jing – Create video screen captures or part of a defined area to be captured. Audio can be added. Text can be added. http://www.jingproject.com

17. WORDLE – Create visuals of text such as poems, scripture, documents (i.e. Constitution), etc. http://www.wordle.net

18. Jjot – Take notes online. Share them with others. http://jjot.com

19. NotebookG – Similar to Jjot (see above) http://www.notebookg.com

20. Pixton.com – Allows the creation of cartoon strips. May select background and characters. http://pixton.com

21. Tiny URL – shrinks very long URLS (also see bit.ly) http://www.tinyurl.com and http://bit.ly

22. Pandora – Internet radio that can be trained to learn your likes and dislikes.
http://www.pandora.com

23. Last.FM – Similar to Pandora. An Internet radio station that can be “trained” learn your musical preferences. Many genres. Includes videos. Free MP3 downloads. http://last.fm

24. Getdropbox – simultaneous synchronization of files between PCs. Makes transferring files between PCs using a flash drive a thing of the past!
http://www.getdropbox.com

25. Mediafire – Similar to Getdropbox (see above). Not as many features (i.e. synchronization between PCs) http://www.mediafire.com.

26. OurMedia – Publish and share your videos, podcasts, etc. with others. Join various “channels” or create your own. http://ourmedia.org

27. Slideshare - free online hosting of PowerPoint presentations. May be shared with others. May be set to allow for viewer download. http://www.slideshare.net

28. AuthorStream - Same concept as Slideshare (see above). http://www.authorstream.com

29. Podbean – Host your podcasts, blog, audio, and video. http://podbean.com

30. Survey Monkey - http://www.surveymonkey.com

31. MisterPoll – Create free online surveys with stats updated in real time. http://www.misterpoll.com

32. Poll4.com - Use cell phones to conduct polls via texting. (Choose “free” plan. Up to 30 responses.)http://www.polleverywhere.com/plans/retail

33. xtimeline.com – Participate in the synchronous collaboration & creation of timelines. http://www.xtimeline.com

34. Meet-O-Matic – Aids in the scheduling of meetings. Use in conjunction with Google calendars and its sharing capabilities. http://www.meetomatic.com/calendar.php

35. ZOHO - A comprehensive online suite of Microsoft compatible applications. Allows for sharing and collaboration. http://www.zoho.com.

36. ThinkFree - An online word processor. Office compatible. Saves documents as ,doc or .pdf. http://www.thinkfree.com


For the Students: A Little Interactive Fun!
(Educational, of Course)

Learn to Play Chess – An interactive chess game that displays possible moves when a piece is clicked upon. Great for beginners!
http://thedogpaddler.com/RandomUploads/FlashChess/flashChess.htm

Periodic Table Game – A fun way to learn the periodic table.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Elementsgames.htm

2003 to 2007 Morphing Tool – A nifty little site that shows how to accomplish in Office 2007 what you do in Office 2003.
http://www.otterbein.edu/its/office2007help/featurefinder.asp

Add it Up! – A rapidly-paced game for students to practice addition skills.
http://schooltimegames.com/Mathematics/MP_Numbers.html

Billy Bug – Assist Billy Bug in finding food on a Cartesian coordinate system.
http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/BillyBug2/bug2.html

Story Starters – Students spin the wheel then use the topic to start writing a story.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/storystarters/storystarter1.htm

The Product Game – Use higher-order thinking skills to practice multiplication facts 1-9. http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=29

If You Were President – Make decisions just as the president would. Not only do students have to answer the questions, but they have to justify their decisions.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/games_quizzes/electiongame/game.asp

Inaugural Word Clouds – Each president’s inaugural speech presented in a “word cloud” (see also Wordle). A “word cloud is a representation of words; larger words being used more frequently. Great for analyzing prose (writing style, overuse of words, etc.)
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/17/washington/20090117_ADDRESSES.html

Magnet Poetry – Think of refrigerator magnets. The same, only in digital form!
http://www.magneticpoetry.com/kidspoetry/playonline.cfm

Do You Know Your States? – Identify as many as you can before the time runs out!
http://www.pibmug.com/files/map_test.swf

Changing Circuits – Use this virtual model to illustrate the operation of electrical circuits.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/changing_circuits.shtml

EtherPad - Online Document Collaboration in Real Time!

I've just discovered this collaborative source via Twitter called EtherPad. It allows multiple participants to collaborate simultaneously on a document in real time.

Naturally it's free (at least for now), and no account is required! Couple it with the power of Skype or Oovoo, and you've got a really powerful set of collaborative tools at your disposal!

An excerpt from the site: "When multiple people edit the same document simultaneously, any changes are instantly reflected on everyone's screen. The result is a new and productive way to collaborate on text documents, useful for meeting notes, drafting sessions, education, team programming, and more."

Check out EtherPad and the awesome demonstration at http://etherpad.com