I received a call yesterday from a former colleague who is now the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at a local elementary school. He is in the process of deciding between purchasing Mac or PC laptops, and wanted to get my opinion on the matter. As we discussed the merits of each platform, our conversation gradually turned to the exorbitant prices of educational software.

As we all know, hardware only represents part of the total cost of computer ownership. Since his budget is tight (as it is for most schools), I put together a list of free software that could be used in lieu of commercial applications. None of these resources require Internet access (hence no Web 2.0 tools) and I did not include any security, networking, or communication software.

Cross-Platform Applications

Audacity

Audio recorder and editor; can export as .mp3 via the Lame Encoder.

Celestia

Space simulation that lets you explore the universe in 3D.

FireFox

Fast, simple, and secure browser that offers numerous add-ons and extensions.

FreeMind

Concept mapping application written in Java that stores maps in XML format.

GeoGebra

Math software that joins geometry, algebra, and calculus. Good teaching resources/examples on their wiki.

Google Sketchup

Easy to use 3D modeling program. Finished models can be placed in Google Earth.

InkScape

Vector graphis editor with capabilities similar to Adobe Illustrator.

Jing

Capture images and video from your computer and share them online.

NVU

Web authoring system designed to rival programs like FrontPage and Dreamweaver.

OpenOffice

Productivity suite that is fully compatible with Office and offers more features than Microsoft’s “Student and Teacher” edition.

Scratch

Programming language that lets kids (and adults) create and share interactive games, stories, animations, music and art.

Tux Paint

A drawing program specifically designed for children ages 3-12.

Windows-Only Applications

Since Macs have the ability to create PDFs and come bundled with iLife, a Windows solution requires a few additional programs:

Primo PDF

Windows-only download that lets you “print” to PDF from any application.

Photo Story 3

Create slide shows that can include text, narration, and background music. Final products can be exported as .wmv files.

Movie Maker

Create, edit, and share digital video. Not as full featured as iMovie but very functional.

Free is Good

The adage “you get what you pay for” doesn’t necessarily apply to free software. The resources I’ve included here are generally top-notch and rival their commercial counterparts. Those looking to really save money should consider using Linux instead of Windows, and even Mac users can find numerous open-source applications for OS X.

I don’t know which platform my friend is going to choose or how much software his students will need, but it is nice to know that free, high quality applications abound. If you have a program to recommend, let us know; there always room on the hard drive for one more app!

 

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Posted: 02|15|08 at 3:28 pm. Filed under: Applications.
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