Stuff I Like
by Gary Stager |
|
MicroWorlds
EX -
This latest generation of MicroWorlds software is built upon
40 years of worldwide Logo use. MicroWorlds EX grows with the
learner and puts simulation building, video game design, robotics,
multimedia publishing within reach of children. (Mac & PC)
LEGO RCX PROGRAMMABLE ROBOTICS MATERIALS - LEGO's groundbreaking programmable bricks bring mathematics,
science and engineering to life through the construction and
programming of interactive robotics. (Mac & PC)
TINKERPLOTS – A modern souped-up tool like Tabletop that allows users to visualize data in numerous ways. Dynamic data exploration is one way to make sense of the information age. (Mac & PC) |
|
Tabletop & Tabletop Jr. - These classic software tools were developed for students and come complete with outstanding classroom activities. Tabletop and Tabletop Jr. is a database that allows users to visualize and manipulate data in concrete ways.(Mac & PC)
SWIKI– Rewritable web pages run on a free, simple, open-source server and allow instant web publishing and collaboration. http://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/csl/9 (any platform)
iLife '05 (iMovie HD, iTunes 4, iDVD 5, Garageband 2 and iPhoto 5) - This suite
of Apple software is simple-to-use and remarkably powerful in its ability
to revolutionize digital communication. Don't forget to use iLife to document
exceptional classroom practice and to tell learning stories. (Mac)
Keynote 2 and PAGES (now called iWork) - Just
an excuse to avoid PowerPoint would be good enough reason to recommend
this simple powerful presentation software. The easy-to-use templates make
your ideas look as if you have an art department at your disposal. The
ability to export your work as a QuickTime movie, PDF or PowerPoint file
offers numerous opportunities for sharing your ideas. Be sure to search
the web for additional free and low-cost Keynote templates. The new Pages word processor allows normal Joes and Janes to create gorgeous printed documents. (Mac)
iPhoto Library Manager - This handy utility
allows iPhoto users to manage multiple photo libraries, even on different
drives. It is a must if you have thousands of photos. (Mac)
Stickybrain - Use StickyBrain to store important information the moment
you read it. Don't bother with copy/paste and the switching between applications
rigamarole you normally go through. Simply press a pre-defined hot key
or use the system-wide contextual menu to store your web receipt, password
or article the second you see it. Store it while it's hot, and you'll
have it when you need it. StickyBrain is like a search engine for your
mind. Select a word or phrase in any application and StickyBrain will
find your information in one click. (Mac)
Jotz - Like
Stickybrain, Jotz serves my disorganized life. Jotz is a rich-media notepad
that allows you to store text and even graphics in any number of notepads
that are quickly searchable. Jotz is only $17.50 as download. (Mac)
SMARTSOUND MOVIE MAESTRO - This scaled-down
version of the amazing SonicFire Pro software allows anyone to score a video and create a royalty-free professional
sounding soundtrack for their digital production. (Mac & PC)
slick transitions and effects for imovie– GeeThree.com offers fantastic titles, transitions and effects for iMovie users. Virtix.com, stupendous-software.com and imovieplugins.com offer similar products. The Slick plug-ins are my current favorite iMovie add-ons. (Mac)
eZedia Plug-ins
for iMovie - eZedia adds all sorts of functionality to the already
impressive iMovie software. eZedia's plug-ins add the ability to use
picture-in-picture, chroma-key (blue screen), video mattes and the ability to animate text, graphics, and movies over a
DV clip. eZedia offers competitive education pricing/licensing. Geethree and Virtix offer terrific iMovie add-on packages as well. (Mac & some Windows)
Quicktime pro -
For $29, the free QuickTime player becomes QuickTime Pro. The unlocked
power
of QuickTime is incredibly useful for converting media files between countless
formats. You can even do quick-and-dirty audio/video editing in QuickTime
Pro. (Mac & PC)
Soundsoap - This reasonably-priced software application makes
it easy to remove annoying noise, interference and hum from your audio
files or movies. (Mac and PC)
Sibelius - The most amazing music composition and notation
software ever created. (Mac and PC)
finale notepad - Free music notation and composition tool usable by musicians of all ages. Pay $25 for the upgrade and give your students the ability to convert their "Notepad" files into MIDI for use in other projects.
Adobe Photoshop
Elements 3 - This little brother
of Photoshop packs more graphic punch than most mere mortals require
at a fraction of the price of Photoshop. (Mac & PC)
dreamweaver and the macromedia mx 2004 suite -
Dreamweaver is my web authoring tool of choice. Macromedia offers generous
educational
pricing for schools. (Mac & PC)
sorenson squeeze 4 - Sorenson makes the best codec (algorithm) for compressing video and audio files. Squeeze
is simple utility that takes live or saved video clips and compresses the
heck out of them. Choose the delivery formats you desire and Squeeze does
the rest. Users may choose versions for compressing QuickTime, Flash, Real and
MPEG 4 files. Education pricing is available. The new Squeeze gives Cleaner a run for it's money. (Mac & PC)
cleaner 6 -
Cleaner will work with all sorts
of audio, video and still graphic formats. Real,
Windows Media and QuickTime are all supported and Cleaner's batch processing
is a godsend. Organize your multimedia files, fire up Cleaner and come
back Monday morning to compressed multimedia. (Mac & PC)
macromedia contribute 3 – The web authoring tool of choice for novices and users who want their work on the web quickly with less hassle. (Mac & PC)
WIRETAP -
Wiretap is a free utility that enables you to record any sound coming through
your Mac. In other words,
you can record streaming radio and play it at a later time. This is incredibly
handy for timeshifting and sharing radio clips with your students.
Safari - Apple's free quick web browser is terrific. The
ability to perform a Google search within any web page is an obvious addition.
(Mac)
Books I recommend may be found at http:///www.stager.org/books.html
Multimedia resources I recommend may be found
at http://www.stager.org/imovie
Podcasting resources for students and teachers may be found at http://www.stager.org/podcasting