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Great page for which tools to put in -- and later pull out -- of your toolbox:
Abundance of Tools -- from Miguel Guhlin

From Jane Hart

 

NEW:

1/5/10
Thoughts about video editing software -- from Teaching Journalism Online

12/31/09
69 Coolest Web Apps Of 2009 -- from SmashingApps.com

12/28/09

Collaboration Tools for Online Groups

12/21/09
Tools for Learning: Trends and Implications to Language Education -- from Teemu Arina

12/14/09
Free Screencasting Tools: Guide To The Best Tools To Record Your Screen -- from Robin Good's blog by Daniele Bazzano

12/8/09:
How to record your mobile, landline and internet telephone calls -- from 10000words.net

12/7/09:
Send Large Files Of Any Size: Guide To The Best Tools And Services To Transfer Large Files -- by Daniele Bazzano from Robin Good's blog

  Operating System File-Sharing Technology Multiple Upload Expiry Date
PipeBytes Web-based Storage server NO N/A
2Peer Desktop app, web-based P2P YES - Unlimited N/A
FilePhile Desktop app P2P YES - Unlimited N/A
Zapr Desktop app Storage server YES - Unlimited Unlimited
Otengo Desktop app Email YES - Unlimited Unlimited
FilesOverMiles Web-based P2P NO N/A
Skype Desktop, mobile app P2P YES - Unlimited N/A
SendThisFile Web-based Storage server YES - 3 3 days
Conexme Desktop app P2P YES - Unlimited N/A
GigaSize Web-based Storage server YES - Unlimited Unlimited
Binfer Desktop app P2P YES - Unlimited N/A

Keep students connected to your curriculum from home and back -- with iPod Touches -- from learningcontinutity
If you use iPod Touches in your classroom and students have access to either an iPod Touch or an iPhone, here are some "Apps" that we have on the AUHSD iPod Touches that can help with continuity of learning. iTunes required to access the links. Use the "Sort" link to find Apps by discipline.  Items labeled "z-Possible" are possibilities to add to the iPod Touch library once they are evaluated by teachers.

12/5/09
There is Such a Thing as a Free Lunch: Free and Easy Ways to Begin Educating Innovatively -- from The Innovative Educator

12/1/09
Tools and Resources for Teaching with Images -- from Smarthistory: The Blog

11/24/09
ChristianClipArts.net -- my thanks to Daniel Laninga in the T&L Digital Studio for this resource
“ChristianClipArts.net is producing Christianity animations, Christian flash games and illustrations from the Bible. This would be good for kids participating in  Sunday School or teachers planning lessons for children.”

11/17/09
12 Tools To Check Your Site’s Accessibility -- from sitepoint.com by Sean Aune

11/16/09
From Jane Hart:

Jane Hart's Top 100 Tools for Learning for 2009 -- by category

11/10/09
VoiceThread + WordPress + VodPod = Simple solution for sharing digital narrative and reflection -- from David Wicks

11/5/09
Top 5 Sites For Free Sound Effects Downloads -- from makeuseof.com

11/2/09
Video Editing Software: Comparison Guide To The Best Consumer Video Editors Under $100 -- by Daniele Bazzano

10/23/09
Five (+ 1) Sources for Free/Royalty-Free Music and Sound Effects -- from Dr. Z Reflects

10/13/09
From Open University: What is Browsealoud?
Browsealoud is a speech tool that you can download and use on OU websites. It converts online text to audio, so you can have the content of OU websites read to you. It is available for anyone who uses OU websites.

10/12/09
Convert To PDF: Guide To The Best Free Online PDF Conversion Tools -- from Robin Good's Latest News by Daniele Bazzano
Do you need to convert your files to PDF? Are you looking for a free online solution to produce PDF documents wherever you are? Struggle no more. In this MasterNewMedia guide you can find the best free PDF conversion tools on the web.

9/9/09
British Library sound archive -- from Learning in an online world
The Guardian reports that the British Library revealed it has made its vast archive of world and traditional music available to everyone, free of charge, online.

9/1/09
Some options for slide scanners -- researched by Daniel Laninga in the T&L Digital Studio

Starting with a high-end option, the HP Photosmart C8180 All-in-One Printer, Scanner, Copier ($230-$420) is able to scan 4 slides at a time and from the reviews seems to do a pretty good job. It even has the feature to copy all of your scans to a disc when you are finished.

A second mid-grade option is the Canon CanoScan 8800F Color Film/Negative/Photo Scanner ($170-$200). This is not a printer, but a scanner that could connect to your computer and scan in your slides 4 at a time. Once they are on the computer, you would have the option to print them out on the printer that you already own or send them in somewhere to get them printed off professionally.

A low-end option would be the ImageLab Instant Slide Scanner ($99). This slide scanner does not connect to your computer, rather it scans the slide and saves the information to an SD memory card (which should be able to be inserted directly into the printer that you already have.)

Depending on how much money you would like to spend, I would say don't get a new printer if you are currently happy with the one you have. The Canon CanoScan is going to produce higher-quality scans, but takes more work saving the files to the computer and print off, whereas the ImageLab Scanner cuts out the computer entirely. My recommendation is that if you are looking for great image quality, go with the Canon CanoScan, but if you are looking for ease of use that will produce good results, the ImageLab Scanner should work!


8/14/09
12 best places to get free images for your site -- from techradar.com by Mike Williams
Get top quality photos at these comprehensive libraries


8/9/09
Top 100 Tools for Learning 2009 - August Update -- from Jane Hart

Top 10 Learning Tools -- August 2009

7/30/09
Top 29 Free UX Tools and Extensions -- from UX Booth
Ever wonder how usable your site appears to someone with a disability, slower connection, or different setup? This list of tools highlights some of the most useful tools and extensions for making your website more usable.


7/27/09
From Zaidlearn:
TEXT-TO-SPEECH TOOLS
Here are a few FREE text-to-speech tools to get you started (Warning: They usually offer a commercial version or upgrade option, too):

  • A free gadget you can add to your website to add text to speech functionality. Also, it enables you easily to convert your text files into MP3 files with a few clicks. It is online and free.

  • Jott
    It converts your voice into emails, text messages, reminders, lists and appointments.

  • Convert any text to speech with iSpeech. Its' text to speech (TTS) Web service is being used in many markets including e-learning, education, websites, media, mobile applications, weblogs, and more.

  • TTSReader
    Is a full-featured, text-to speech software package that allows reading text aloud as well as to wav or mp3 files. TTSReader is freeware, therefore you can download and use it free of charge.

  • Panopreter
    It reads text file, rtf file, word document and web page in .htm format, it can read in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and more, provided such Text-To-Speech voice engines have been installed on your computer. Panopreter converts the files into audio files with the format of wave and MP3. So you can hear your files with your audio media player, you don't need to sit at the desk, with your eyes fixed on the computer's screen any longer.

  • ReadPlease 2003
    The free edition offers full support for all Microsoft voices, reads text via Windows clipboard fm any program, Adjustable voice speed (rate) and so on.

  • NaturalReader
    The Free version allows you to experience listening to your emails, web pages, reports or any text on your PC. There are no charges for downloading, using and redistributing the free version of the software.

July 2009
Digital Recorders / MP3 Recorders -- recommendations from the Digital Studio Staff
As of June 2009, as researched by Caleb Kuntz and Niko Solihin from the Teaching & Learning Digital Studio

  • H4 Pocket-Size Digital Audio Recorder – ~$240 - $300
    Recommended for higher-end interviewing/field recordings as well as for recording music
  • Olympus WS-210S – ~$50-$80
    Recommended for interviews, note taking, recording speeches/voices


    Also see:
    Digital Voice Recorders Turn Students Into Interviewers -- Digital Directions by Katie Ash


6/17/09
FREE REPORT: Learning Technology Products 2009 -- from BrandonHall.com


6/1/09
Adobe Flash Catalyst Turns Photoshop Files into Interactive Content -- from Digital Inspiration, by Amit Argarwal
You have a team of designers and typographers at one end who can create brilliant artwork in Photoshop or Illustrator but have little idea about writing software. And then there’s a team of developers on the other side who are good at writing code but have no clue about design. Adobe Flash Catalyst bridges the gap between them.

Adobe Flash CatalystAdobe® Flash® Catalyst
...is a new professional interaction design tool for rapidly creating user interfaces without coding.

  • Transform artwork created in Adobe Photoshop® and Adobe Illustrator® into functional user interfaces.
  • Create interactive prototypes with the ability to leverage them in the final product
  • Publish a finished project as a SWF file ready for distribution
  • Work more efficiently with developers who use Adobe Flash Builder™ 4 to create rich Internet applications (RIAs). Designers use Flash Catalyst to create the functional user experience then provide the project file to developers who use Flash Builder to add functionality and integrate with servers and services.

3-D

Animation on the Web

  • Adobe Flash - create rich Internet content and applications

Also see these tools to help you develop Flash-based applications...without the development times/headaches:


Anti-plagiarism

  • Thwarting the Copycats -- from Campus Technology, by Linda Briggs

  • From Fighting Fire With Fire -- An Anti-Plagiarism Arsenal -- from Campus Technology, by Linda Briggs

    • CopyCatch Gold, from UK linguist David Woolls, checks a student’s work against a pool of select papers for copying infractions, and has a licensing fee per student per year.
    • CaNexus’ EVE2 searches the public internet only; the company offers free trials, or the product can be purchased for $29.99 for a single instructor’s unlimited use.
    • MyDropBox, which integrates with Blackboard/WebCT, offers a plagiarism detection tool called SafeAssignment, as well as tools for peer review, team collaboration, and online markup. Licensing fees start at 15 cents per FTE, with volume discounts.
    • Turnitin checks a student’s paper against the entire internet (including proprietary sites), as well as against commercial property such as books, magazines, and the company’s own database of previously submitted papers. A campus license costs $850 annually, plus a per-student service fee.
    • WCopyfind, developed by University of Virginia Physics Professor Louis Bloomfield, compares a suspect document against a select list of documents. It’s available at no charge.

  • Anti-plagiarim sites -- from Blackboard


Audio - see Digital Audio below

Browsers (in alphabetical order)


Collaboration Tools (Online) -- see Online Collaboration Tools below

Delivering WYSIWYG on the web

  • Adobe Acrobat - excellent for delivering What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) documents; so it's especially good for forms and when the recipients need to print out the document.


Desktop Publishing (which can sometimes be converted to Acrobat PDF files)


Desktop Recordings -- see Simulations / Screen Capture /Desktop Recording Utilities


Digital Audio
Also see Podcasting and "Adding Audio to a PowerPoint" in this section

  • Audacity - great, free option for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems
  • Amadeus II - inexpensive option for the Mac
  • BIAS' Peak (for the Mac) Recommended audio editor for the Mac- more expensive though
  • BIAS' Sound Soap (for Mac and PC; cleans up hiss/static/etc.) Recommended for Mac or PC - also requires an audio editor.
  • DigiDesign's Pro Tools - high-level/professional tool - long learning curve but excellent tool
  • Garageband - Recommended entry-level tool for the MAC (this tool lets you create your own music - royalty free - and mix music and voiceovers; it's part of the iLife suite of tools)
  • Sony's Sound Forge (for the PC) Recommended audio editor for the PC.
  • Sony's Batch Converter- to convert files to and from over 20 audio and video file formats
  • Adobe Audition (for the PC)
  • Alto Edge - (for the PC) various products related to digital audio and digital video
  • NCH Software -- various products related to digital audio and digital video
  • Purple Planet -- royalty-free music; link from Christy Tucker
  • From Open University: What is Browsealoud?
    Browsealoud is a speech tool that you can download and use on OU websites. It converts online text to audio, so you can have the content of OU websites read to you. It is available for anyone who uses OU websites.


Adding audio to a PowerPoint:

Microphones:

Capturing audio from the Internet:
Such as Internet-based radio, and saving files in the MP3 file format or to other file formats

Capturing audio from a CD:
And converting the audio file to various file formats if you want to, including the MP3 file format

Digital Audio Search Tools


Digital Audio Clip Collections


Digital Video

  • Apple's iMovie - entry level video editing for the Mac
  • Pinnacle Studio - entry level video editing for the PC
  • Apple's Final Cut Pro HD (for the Mac) - professional level video editing
  • Apple's iDVD (for the Mac) - entry level tool to create DVD's
  • Apple's DVD Studio Pro (for the Mac) - professional level tool to create DVD's
  • Apple's Motion (for the Mac) - professional level too for creating/including motion graphics
  • Adobe Premiere - (for the PC) good tool for digital video editing
  • Adobe After Effects - (for the PC) good tool for creating motion graphics and visual effects
  • Adobe Encore - (for the PC) used to create DVD's on the PC - professional level
  • Alto Edge - (for the PC) various products related to digital audio and digital video
  • NCH Software -- various products related to digital audio and digital video

Capturing video from YouTube:

Fonts

The following resources are from:
Killer Typography Tools and Free Font Downloads -- from Lifehacker: Top by Gina Trapani

If you're suffering from font overload, rely on the experts' picks for best fonts. Designer Vitaly Friedman lists his 25 best free quality fonts here. (Got another quality list of free fonts? Post 'em up in the comments.)


Graphics, Image Manipulation and Illustration


***See below for finding images on the web.***


HTML Editor


Images on the web:


ICONS on the web

 

Online Collaboration Tools

Online Collaboration Tools - New Technologies And Web Services - Sharewood Guide
Dec 08 08 -- from Andre Deutmeyer
Tired of having to manually sync documents between your different computers and your mobile devices? I have an online collaboration solution for you that can synchronize folders across Windows, OS X, and mobile platforms... easily and quickly. Or perhaps you need a program that lets you take notes in real time with your colleagues. Today, I have selected for you eight collaboration tools that can assist you with these and other online collaboration needs, and brought them together in this issue of the Sharewood Guide.

  • Live Mesh - A cross platform file synchronization solution built by Microsoft that also has remote desktop features built in.
  • VMukti - Provides online video and audio conferencing, chat, file search, collaborative whiteboard, file-sharing, presentation, remote monitoring / controlling / sharing, scheduling feature and more.
  • Lotus Unyte - Allows users to share documents, screen share, and have remote desktop control from any computer.
  • Mindquarry - An open source online collaborative platform for file sharing, task management, team collaboration and Wiki editing via a downloadable desktop client.
  • Dabbleboard - An easy to use online collaborative whiteboard with built in voice and video chat functions.
  • TextFlow - A new way to track changes and collaborate on Word documents, Google Doc, and other text files.
  • WriteWith - Online collaborative word processing with more functionality than Google Docs.
  • Etherpad - An online collaborative notepad that allows simultaneous editing and tracks changes.

Virtual Teams Collaboration Tools List -- my thanks to Capella University, as accessed in January 2009
"Listed below are suggested tools supporting team communications meeting the virtual team project requirements. This is not an exclusive list of tools available, just the ones we have had some experience with. Primary features and restrictions are listed to help guide in tool selection. They are listing in the order of suggested use."

Groove
URL: http://www.groove.net/
Operating System: Windows
Features:

  • Chat Room - with persisted discussion threads
  • Audio Chat
  • Instant Messaging
  • Directed Internet Browsing
  • Shared Drawing Area
  • File Sharing

    Use:
    Groove is highly intuitive. Peruse the Help information to get a feel for what you can do. This tool really supports team communication nicely through a very friendly interface. We have several faculty at Capella regularly using it. Its capability of persisting chat information, sharing files and easily sharing graphics and url's make it a real winner except for it's lack of a Macintosh interface.
ICQ
URL: http://web.icq.com/
Operating System: Windows based 100 MHz Pentium processor with 24 Megs free; MAC; PDA
Features:
  • Chat Room - non-persisted discussion threads
  • Audio Chat
  • Instant Messaging
  • Directed Internet Browsing
  • File Sharing - in online mode only

Use:
ICQ is a very thinned down version of Groove, but it is adequate for supporting on-line communications and for sharing files. It is very intuitive and has enough on-line help to facility fast and easy use. It does not persist chat sessions, so team members need to be on-line to not miss out on team communications. Files also cannot be shared between individuals unless they are on-line at the same time. It not only supports a Macintosh interface but also PDA's and wireless phones.

Net Meeting
URL: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/netmeeting/default.asp
Operating System: Windows
Features:
  • Video and Audio Conferencing
  • Whiteboard (extended version of Groove's shared drawing area - persistable). Saves/displays anything produced by Microsoft applications
  • Chat - Persistable
  • File Transfer
  • Program Sharing - allow another user to run an application on your PC
  • Remote Desktop Sharing
  • Advanced Calling

Use:
This is a somewhat intuitive application with considerable power - really more then Groove. The setup also can be tricky. But, it really provides a great interface for team communications once it is up and running. There is relatively good on-line documentation for this tool. Its main limitations are ease of use and lack of a Macintosh version. It is rated last here for those reasons, but feel free to use it if you have the time to learn it. It has been found that some network configurations are not friendly to Net Meeting.

Yahoo! Messenger
URL: http://messenger.yahoo.com/
Operating System: Windows based 100 MHz Pentium processor with 24 Megs free; MAC; PDA
Features:
  • Chat Room - non-persisted discussion threads
  • Audio Chat
  • Instant Messaging
  • Conference
  • File Transfer

Use:
Yahoo! Messenger is a thinned down version of ICQ, but it is adequate for supporting on-line communications. It is very intuitive and has enough on-line help to facility fast and easy use. It does not persist chat sessions, so team members need to be on-line to not miss out on team communications. It not only supports a Macintosh interface but also PDA's and wireless phones, video-cam etc. . Its free and requires a minimal system configuration. It also has some fun graphic wrappers.

E Room
URL: http://www.eroom.net/eRoomNet/about/about.asp
Operating System: Any that support IE or Netscape
Features:
  • Chat Room - non-persisted discussion threads
  • Audio Chat
  • Instant Messaging
  • Conference
  • File Transfer
  • File Versioning
  • Project Tracking

Use:
E Room is a server based team development support environment that provides access through any PC that supports a current browser. It support a full project development environment as well as the team support capabilities of the other tools. There is no installation and setup and usage is very intuitive. Since it is server based, there is a fee for use which is about $250 per 10 users per month, probably too high, but its interesting to see what is available.


Plagiarism -- see Anti-plagiarism


Podcasting


Polling / surveying -- the following 10 online poll/survey sites are available at no-cost (info per Miguel Guhlin):


PowerPoint -- putting audio to PowerPoint Presentations - see Adding audio to a PowerPoint


Simulations / Screen Capture /Desktop Recording Utilities

  • Adobe Captivate -- Recommended; also see The Adobe Captivate Blog (from Adobe)
    For screen captures as well as for capturing mouse movement, text inputs, screen changes, quizzing, testing, etc.
    (Solid desktop recording solution)
  • TechSmith's Camtasia Studio -- Recommended
    For screen captures as well as for capturing mouse movement, text inputs, screen changes, etc.
    (good desktop recorder
  • SnapKast (Windows) or ProfCast (Macintosh) for recording lectures with PowerPoint or Keynote slides
  • TechSmith's Snag-It - for screen captures only
  • TechSmith's JING project/product
  • Viewlet Builder - easy to use; quick production times
  • SnapZ Pro -- Recommended for the Mac for screen captures and desktop recordings
  • Screen Toaster
  • Older ones / not sure if still around:
    • Lotus' ScreenCam
    • MatchWare's ScreenCorder
    • MotionWorks International's CameraMan
    • Microsoft's Media Encoder
    • Hyperionics' Hypercam
    • OPTX International's ScreenWatch
    • Debut Video Capture Software

  • Also see:
    http://www.masternewmedia.org/2008/10/27/14/index.htm
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screencast#Screencast_software
    Screen Capture, Screen Recording, Screencasting: The Best Tools To Record Videos Of Your Screen - Sharewood Guide
    From "8 Free Screencasting Tools for Tony":

    • Flowgram
      A new communications platform that lets anyone package and share anything on the internet. A flowgram combines the advantages of slide presentations and screencasts with an interactive user experience that fully exploits the fact that almost all the information we might ever need is already on the web. Using the zero download Flowgram Maker, creators can assemble and annotate web pages, photographs, videos etc on any topic, and add a voice narrative which provides context, emotion and consistency.
    • FreeScreencast
      RECORD your screen, UPLOAD, and SHARE online with ease!
    • Jing
      Snap a picture of anything on your desktop. Record a video of what you do, or what you see, Instantly uploaded. Share in email, IM, or blogs.
    • Webinaria
      Create and share software demos online with their screen recording/ screencast software.
    • ScreenToaster
      Is a free online screen recorder, enabling you to record your screen activity, publish the video on the Internet, and stream the recorded video in Flash.
    • WebKut
      Is an AIR application that allows you to capture web pages, or parts of them in a very simple way. It provides you 3 capture options: the entire page, the current view, or only a selection.
    • CamStudio
      Enables you to record all screen and audio activity on your computer and create industry-standard AVI video files and using its built-in SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos (SWFs) .
    • Wink
      A Tutorial and Presentation creation software, primarily aimed at creating tutorials on how to use software (like a tutor for MS-Word/Excel etc).

Rapid e-Learning Development Tools

  • Articulate Studio
    • Presenter for PowerPoint conversions
    • QuizMaker for assessments
    • Engage for innovative interactions

  • Camtasia Studio -- Recommended

  • Adobe Captivate -- Recommended


Videoconferencing

From DSC:
Recommended for enterprise-wide solutions as well as for integration with Blackboard

Other -- from John T. Thompson at Buffalo State

Also see:
Robin Good's Official Guide To Web Conferencing And Live Presentation Tools
and his
Online Collaboration Tools - New Technologies And Web Services - Sharewood Guide
and his
Best Video Conferencing Tools: Free, Low-Cost, One-To-One And Multi-Party Solutions - Mini-Guide
 and
Tony Karrer's posting on this
and
Comparison of web conferencing software -- Wikipedia
and
Web Conferencing Services -- Tony Karrer
or
Top 5 FREE Video Conferencing Tools to Teach or Conduct Webinars -- from DistanceEducator.com


Voice Recognition Software

 

Web Authoring

Most of the major software vendors offer educational pricing; such as:

But also check the following sites for educational pricing:

 

Monkiri -- from the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies
Monkiri is a user friendly tool that enables a web user to capture and share interesting web pages or part of a web page with others.

Geek-Free Authoring Tools -- from and for Patti Shank's Authoring Workshop (2007)