Online Software Resources

Software to Download:

Inspiration Software, Inc.
http://www.inspiration.com/

From this website you can download a trial version of both Inspiration and Kidspiration. Each will work for 30 days. Both software packages are designed to help improve thinking skills. From the Inspiration website, "Learning to learn. Learning to think. These are the true core skills that launch success for all students. At Inspiration Software®, Inc. we're dedicated to developing and providing visual thinking tools that help build a solid learning foundation for all students." Kidspiration is designed for grades K-5, and Inspiration for grades 6-12 and beyond.

Hyperstudio
http://www.hyperstudio.com/

For over 10 years, HyperStudio has been the de facto standard classroom multimedia authoring program. The first major release in over five years, HyperStudio 4 represents the next level in desktop and online multimedia communications for educators and students. Even though Microsoft Powerpoint has a big chunk of the market, HyperStudio is still able to be used by kids (and adults) of almost all ages to create great multimedia projects. The program has features that MS-Powerpoint does not. For example, the current version includes Morph 2.5. This popular digital video creation program is bundled with HyperStudio 4 at no extra charge! With Morph, you can create QuickTime or AVI movies that smoothly transition from one object or image to another resulting in "mild-to-totally-wild" effects. Plus, with Morph, you can create warping and caricature effects of still images or create dynamic morphs between two digital movies. The resulting movies are easily imported into HyperStudio projects. To find out what other features this program has, head over to their website. The HyperStudio® 4 Preview that you can download for free is a fully functioning evaluation version of HyperStudio 4. It is limited to one save up to a maximum of four cards.

StarOffice 5.2
http://wwws.sun.com/software/star/staroffice/6.0/index.html

If you don't want to have to buy MS-Office, there are a few alternatives. StarOffice[tm] software is an affordable alternative in office productivity suites that runs on multiple operating systems, including the Solaris[tm] Operating Environment, Microsoft Windows, and Linux. The suite has a simple, easy-to-use interface and contains full-featured applications including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and graphics capabilities. You can actually buy the software for a low cost, or you can download the software for free. The free version is not an evaluation copy. The software currently costs nothing if you download it. However, the download is rather large (about 79-110 MB) so if you have a dial-up connection to the internet you may want to wait until you have broadband access before attempting to start the download.

The components of StarOffice include:

StarOffice Writer: word processing
StarOffice Calc: spreadsheet
StarOffice Impress: presentation software
StarOffice Draw and StarOffice Image: graphics software
StarOffice Schedule: calendars
StarOffice Mail: email
StarOffice Base: database interface
StarOffice Discussion: newsreader
StarOffice Math: formula software
StarOffice Workplace: desktop environment

ThinkFree Office
http://www.thinkfree.com/

Another low cost MS Office alternative is ThinkFree.com's ThinkFree Office, a Web-based productivity suite which the company claims is fully compatible with Microsoft Office. Developed from the ground-up in Sun's Java programming language, ThinkFree Office provides identical features whether you are using Windows, Mac, Linux, or UNIX. Their file formats are identical for all platforms, so any ThinkFree Office document created on one computer can be opened on any other computer, with no need for conversion or "importing." Your work is stored on a "cyberdrive" so you can work on your files from any web-enabled computer attached to the internet.

The ThinkFree Office family of applications includes:

Write: Microsoft Word compatible word processor/HTML editor
Calc: Microsoft Excel compatible spreadsheet
Show: Microsoft PowerPoint compatible presentation graphics program
Mail: IMAP4 and POP3 email client with an integrated file attachment viewer
Contacts: address book with built in LDAP support
Folders: file manager for navigating and managing documents in local folders or in secure ThinkSafe cyberfolders.

OpenOffice.org
http://www.openoffice.org/

OpenOffice.org is a free alternative to MS-Office. Their mission statement is, "To create, as a community, the leading international office suite that will run on all major platforms and provide access to all functionality and data through open-component based APIs and an XML-based file format." They do that by offering a free product that is compatible with MS-Word, MS-Excel, and MS-Powerpoint. It is a large download, but it's hard to beat the price.

Macromedia
http://www.macromedia.com

Macromedia has many different products that can aid in creating multi-media products that can function on and off the web. Many of these products are available for download, and most have a 30 day trial period where they are fully functional.

Macromedia Studio MX: Rapidly develop rich Internet applications with approachable, integrated tools that leverage leading web server technologies and device platforms.
eLearning Suite: Create interactive, rich-media learning content for the web, corporate networks, and CDs.
Dreamweaver MX: Build websites and web applications.
Macromedia Flash MX: Create rich Internet content and applications.
Fireworks MX: Design and optimize interactive web graphics.
FreeHand 10: Create vector-based illustrations for Macromedia Flash and for print.
Director 8.5 Shockwave Studio: Develop magnetic Internet destinations and powerful multimedia.
HomeSite 5: Code HTML pages by hand.
ColdFusion MX: Rapidly build and deploy Internet applications.
JRun Server 3.1: The fast, affordable, and reliable J2EE Server.
Authorware 6: Produce computer-based training.
Fontographer: Create and edit Type 1, 3, and TrueType fonts.
SoundEdit 16: Create audio for multimedia projects and the Internet.
Macromedia Sitespring: Give your team the power to efficiently manage projects, tasks, files, and clients.

Integrating Technology into Curriculum and Instruction:

Back to Top

Busy Teachers' WebSite K-12
http://www.ceismc.gatech.edu/busyt/

CEO Forum on Education and Technology
http://www.ceoforum.org/

Classroom Connect
http://corporate.classroom.com/

From Now On: The Educational Technology Journal (Jamie McKenzie) - Journal entries on integrating technology in the classroom.
http://fno.org

Gateway to Educational Materials - One-stop access to educational resources on the Internet.
http://www.thegateway.org/

International Society for Technology in Education - Resources for using technology in the classroom.
http://www.iste.org/

Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators
http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/

Mid-Continent Regional Educational Laboratory
http://www.mcrel.org/

MultiMedia Schools Magazine
http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/

North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium - No longer operating.
http://www.ncrtec.org

Tammy's Technology Tips for Teachers
http://www.tammyworcester.com

TEACH Wisconsin
http://www.teachwi.state.wi.us/

TEAMS Distance Learning for all K-12 Educators
http://teams.lacoe.edu/

The WebQuest Page
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquest.html

Instructional Media and Technology Team - Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dltcl/imt/index.html

Wisconsin Educational Communications Board
http://www.ecb.org/

Zen and the Art of Educational Standards
http://www.acsu.k12.vt.us/~Straub/AlScirburindex.html

Tools for Teachers:

Back to Top

Quiz Lab (You can have your students take quizzes online and the their results will actually be e-mailed to you.)
http://www.quizlab.com

Flash Card Creator
http://www.aplusmath.com/Flashcards/Flashcard_Creator.html

Math Worksheet Creator
http://www.aplusmath.com/Worksheets/index.html - Worksheet

Free Worksheets
http://www.freeworksheets.com - Order worksheets

The Worksheet Archive
http://school.discovery.com/teachingtools/worksheetgenerator/

A to Z Kids Stuff - Preschool and elementary education resource/activity guide.
http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/

Alphabet Ideas - Preschool-grade 1. Poetry, lessons, art projects, etc. to assist with teaching alphabet recognition.
http://www.mrsalphabet.com/links.html

Argus Clearinghouse - Selected topical guides from the Internet rated for content excellence.
http://www.clearinghouse.net/

Baker Street - Sherlock Holmes' stories; includes some illustrations.
http://www.221bakerstreet.org/

The Biography Maker - Step by step lesson to help grade 4-8 students write biographies. Includes a Great Explorers of the World link biography source.
http://www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/biomaker.htm

Calendar of Monthly Activities - Class project lists Internet sites relevant to each month; links to additional student Internet projects provided. Primary Grades (ages 5-9)
http://www.siec.k12.in.us/~west/proj/month/index.html#January

ERIC Clearinghouse on Reading, English and Communication - Resources include: publications, lesson plans, parent involvement materials, distance education, and more.
http://reading.indiana.edu

Global SchoolNet Foundation - Global Internet projects for students and educators. Newsletter.
http://www.globalschoolnet.org

Landmark Project - Resources for assisting with the integration of curriculum and technology. Web tools include template for seeking permission to use copyrighted materials for classroom use.
http://www.landmark-project.com/

On-Line Books Page - More than 7,000 English works can be downloaded free for personal, non-commercial use. Search by author, subject, or title.
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books

Outside the Box - Parent and teacher resoures for students with ADHD, special needs and/or learning disabilities.
http://adhd.kids.tripod.com/

PBS Teachersource - Over 1,400 pre-K through grade 12 lesson plans and activites for curricular areas that include: Arts & Literature, Health & Fitness, Math, Science & Technology, and Social Studies. Access to program segments such as Nova, Frontline, The American Experience and Sesame Street is available.
http://www.pbs.org/teachersource

Teaching and Learning with Technology - Technology integrated lesson plans by grade level, K-12.
http://www.tlt.ab.ca

Games for Children:

Back to Top

Math Hunt
http://teacher.scholastic.com/mathhunt/index.asp

Cyberchase Club - Liquid Volume
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/liquidvolume/liquidvolume.html

Runescape
http://www.runescape.com

Starfall
http://www.starfall.com

The Netsmartz Workshop
http://www.netsmartz.org/

Online Geography Games
http://www.standard.net.au/~garyradley/games/

Game Aquarium - Games for the kids to play
http://www.gameaquarium.com/

Education Information/
Lesson Plans:

Back to Top