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30 Educational Freeware Programs: Free
software
(Updated December 28, 2006 )
This section focuses of educational freeware for MacOS X (focusing
on use within primary school (K1-12) to senior (secondary) school.
We include also, where available, reviews that we have done on this
software.
I have listed them in order of top usage in my school (both for pupils
and teachers), so if you check out the top links first you know that
we use it often in our school, and find the programs stable and appropriate.
MacOS X freeware that is not on our hotlist below can
be found here.
Windows
software links are found here, but we are not reviewing these.
We also recommend Versiontracker.com for checking out software, especially
for MacOS X.
Don't forget the wealth of free software which comes with every new
mac. While not "freeware" (able to be installed on all machines),
you have them available to use. From Apple: iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iTunes
and GarageBand as well as newcomers PhotoBooth and iWeb. Recently included
has been ComicLife. Also don't ignore the Dictionary (Thesarus included)
and iChat for conferencing.
Key:
 = Apple
OS X
 =
Universal application (runs on intel OSX)
 =
Windows
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This section under development-
just 5 more programs to place. Still in process of ranking
and completing links and if you have any suggestions pleasemake
your comment in the section at the bottom of the page.
In
this section you will find links to a great range of
freeware. When selecting freeware for windows especially,
you need to be aware of the differences/tricks used.
Some freeware is in fact adware, others just free trials
until you buy. We have only listed those that are freeware,
although we also carry out reviews of commercial freware
or shareware.
Be aware that it is important
to note that software is adware free, or that least
the authors of
the programs state what type of "freeware" they
offer. In the end it is up to you to check. Adware
(on windows)
often downloads with it small programs that are constantly
feeding back information to the author and they also
often cause system instabiliy (you need Spyware removal
progrmas
to get rid of these - not required for MacOS X).More
info here. |
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| 1.
Google Sketchup |
3D
design. Pupils just love this. We use it with ages 9 years and up. Use
in technology, design, science and more |
| 2.
Google Earth |
Fascinating
to use. Great for Social Studies, Geography. |
| Firefox ,
Camino |
Two
other Internet browsers for when Safari just doesn't seem to like that
site you are looking at. |
| TextWrangler |
TextWrangler
2 is the powerful general purpose text editor, and Unix and server administrator's
tool. |
| ACSLogo |
Logo
programming introduces pupils to prgramming and logical thinking. It
involves many maths concepts also. If you want to focus on
visual programming more then Scratch may
be just what you are looking for. Another pure logo program is xlogo,
which is not as frequently updated as ACSLogo. A more recently updated
logo is OpenStarLogo (version
2.2) and a spinoff from this project which is a 3D Logo version called
StarLogo TNG (preview
3)which is java based and also cross platform. |
| ImageWell |
Simple
easy image editing. Add captions, change format, crop and a whole lot
more. the latest version has an updated interface and the option to upgrade
to a paid version for more features. |
| Journler |
Journal
creation and tracking. Great for both staff and pupils to maintain daily
journals, ongoing evaluation or learning logs. Professional development
logs form teachers could be included in this. Donationware. Review. |
| BalancePro |
Convert
a range of information from one form of measure to another. (Also check
out the Apple built in calculator that has converting options, and QwickConvert
a dashboard widget). |
| Flip4Mac |
An
addin for Quicktime that allows you to play .wmv (Windows Media Video) |
| Audacity |
Recording
and sound file editing. Requires also that you download another freebie called
LameLib to create .mp3 files. |
| Journler |
Journal
creation and tracking. Great for both staff and pupils to maintain daily
journals, ongoing evaluation or learning logs. Professional development
logs form teachers could be included in this. Review. |
| iPhotoBuddy |
Create
multiple iPhoto libraries, especially if you need to on firewire drives
to give you more space. Review. |
| PDFLab |
PDFLab
lets you split and join PDF documents as well as insert images and blank
pages. You will also be able to easily create PDF documents out of several
images |
| JAlbum |
Create
web albums that you can pop online very quickly. |
| Lego
Digital Designer |
You
can build anything in your imagination using virtual bricks, right on
your computer. 3d Visualisation. |
| Nvu |
WYSIWYG
editing of pages, making web creation as easy as typing a letter with
your word processor. Site Management and tabbed editing. |
| Onyx |
System
maintenance for your OS X computer. |
| VLC |
Alternative
Multimedia and audio Movie/ Video file player. (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4,
DivX, mp3, ogg, ...) as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. |
| Yep 1.1 |
A
document reader for pdf with a very clever interface. If you are storing
documents on an intranet in pdf form this could be a solution to easily
viewing, updating, searching through and tracking them. Note latest version
1.2 is now shareware. |
| iBackup |
Simple
backup program that enables you to sync folders or accounts with another
drive, backup folder or a network share. While the interface is a bit
tricky to get sussed at first it seems to be one of the better ones of
the freeware (personal license is free) available. |
| Funny
Photographer |
Apply
effects to webcam or iSight to create digital effects. Helps disguise
faces quickly for "internet safe" pics. Similar to "Photobooth" on
latest macs. |
| Quicksilver |
While
not really that helpful for pupils unless they are using their own laptops,
this app is useful for teachers. Designed as a "spotlight on steroids"
it is a fast and convenient file locator and launcher. |
| Skype |
Internet
conferencing (video/voice). If you are communicating with other mac users
then iChat is great but for cross platform chatting than this or the
less well known Gizmo are a great way to go. |
| Splendid
City |
Want
to do a sports draw for a team? This program will save you a ton of time.
Like all scheduling software it is good as the information you throw
at it and the compromises that you are making in terms of allocation
of time and teams/individuals, but it allows you to override with manual
inputs also. |
| Expression
3 |
A
vector based program that was released by Microsoft after they bought
the software rights from the company that produced it. Now no longer
available as a freebie from Microsoft, if you can get a copy it is great
for manipulating images. Suggest you also keep an eye on the developing
open source Xara version. This
is a fantastic program on Windows and I am really looking forward to
the Mac version if/when it is released. There are a number of vector
freebies available for macs but I feel at this stage that they are all
still rough or missing in features. |
| Java
Hotpot |
Hot
Potatoes is a program that allows you to easily create online quizzess,
crosswords, cloze exercises. (Examples here). These can be displayed
via your intranet or internet site. They are able to give immediate feedback
to users and track/mark their progress. |
| NeoOffice |
This
is an easily installed Mac version of the Open
Office suite of programs. Containing a database, presentation program,
wordprocessor,
drawing program
and more it is an alternative to the MS equivalent. So much so that some
cities have adopted this suite (versions available for all platforms)
in their move to more open-source alternatives. While a bit slow at times
it is fully featured! Currently at Version 2. PPC and Intel versions
available seperately. |
| SideNote |
Have
the need for learning something (I use it for scripture memorisation),
taking quick notes and having it always there ready to go? Then, Sidenote
could
be the
answer
you were
loooking
for. A wave of the mouse to the side of the screen and it slides out
for your use. |
| Squeak |
Squeak
is a "media authoring tool"-- software that you can download
to your computer and then use to create your own media or share and play
with others. Designed to explore science and maths concepts from an educational
point of view. |
| Scratch |
Scratch is a new programming language that lets you create your own interactive
stories, games, music, and art. |
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