Wednesday
Oct272010
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What software should every school computer have on it?
We are currently putting our 2011 computer images together for both out classroom and student leased netbooks and I am going through the process of adding and removing software and testing it before we deploy it to over 400 machines.
The big question is what do we put on them? There are hundreds of great pieces of software available to enhance students learning both paid and free as well as some must have links to great sites foreducation.
So I would love to hear what suggestions you have and I then will compile that list together and possibly uploading the finished computer image as a downloadable torrent for all to share. Please contribute below and tell us why you have suggested that piece of software.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 10:07AM
Reader Comments (6)
I recommend Audacity and a link to Myna for the best freeware audio tools. We use them for podcasting quite a bit.
You must have MS office we use this more than anything and it is so dynamic.
Google Earth
Something like File Factory to convert formats. I'd also include Pencil as a free animations program and Paint.net as a free photo and drawing program.
For a totally free and very well supported Maths Interactive gemoetry program, try Geogebra. I have linked to a post on my blog which includes many useful links including tutorials.
Google Apps for education so students can collaborate.
My personal favourite free tools on the web I have given here:
Digital Tools
and a student version here
Student Digital Tools
Inspiration, Kidspiration
Audacity (with mp3 audio Soundzabound files and LAME on shared drive)
Media coder (for converting files)
Camstudio (or other screencapture software)
Readplease (text to speech- free simple)
Photostory (great for creating digital stories for our primary kids)
Movie Maker
Irfanview
Paint.net
I know we have others, but that is all I can think of off the top of my head. (if you want me to send you a complete list, send me an email and I'll do that)
Good luck, I know how this task can be...