A List of Very Useful Applications for Educational Use

[tech_guy]

I'm currently creating an image for the teacher computers (each teacher has a pc connected to a projector in their classroom) and I am going to install as much additional software as I can as well as the usual Windows / MS Office combo.

 

Here's what I've got so far:

 

Itunes

DropBox

Skype

Libre Office

The Gimp

Google SketchUp

Google Earth

CutePDF

Mozilla Firefox

Chrome

Opera

QuickTime

RealPlayer

InfraRecorder

IMGBurn

 

 

I'm just trying to touch all the bases and make the machines as much a teaching accessory as possible.

 

Please can you add your applications to the thread. Your recommendations for gratis applications will be much appreciated!

 

Thank you!

[korifugi]

7zip

Paint.net

VLC

 

I'll try to have a think of any more that I generally push out everywhere.

 

*edit* Hmmm, might be a good idea to actually provide some links as well...

Edited May 11, 2012 by korifugi
added links

[jinnantonnixx]

I'm a big fan of LMMS music software (it's been ported very successfully to Windows). For building tunes there's nothing quicker or easier.

 

LMMS - Linux MultiMedia Studio

 

Also Audacity, the best audio app

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

[JJonas]

Inkscape

Stellarium

Truecrypt

 

Big list here > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free_and_open_source_software_packages

Edited May 11, 2012 by JJonas

[saundersmatt]

I'd definately have some CD/DVD emulation software on there.

My current fave is Virtual Clone Drive.

 

Matt

[6Foot2]

Our English staff like Shakespeare Reader:

 

Link: Shakespeare Reader | Rants!

[SimpleSi]

Hold on!

Why would you want to bloat out a computer unnecessarily!

Make a descision - Chrome or Firefox - no need for both surely. (And who on earth apart from a geek would be using Opera?)

 

Itunes??????

Skype?????? (Is it not blocked by your RBC?)

 

Libre Office (Do you use it for the pupils - if not no need for teachers)

The Gimp - seriously - teachers using Gimp! - you must have very geeky ones then.

Google SketchUp - do they use it?

 

CutePDF - would they know how to use it?

 

etc etc

Are we talking primary or secondary?

[tech_guy]

We have some very able members of staff who will certainly use the applications / can use the applications. The point of the exercise is to offer flexibility and choice and to show that there are alternatives out there to the Microsoft offerings. I'm also toying with the idea of offering dual boot with Ubuntu as an alernative os.

[saundersmatt]

I'm also toying with the idea of offering dual boot with Ubuntu as an alernative os.

 

Jesus H Christ, you are mad!

 

Not that I have anything against Ubuntu, but surely that's going to be a support nightmare.

 

Matt

[Dos_Box]

'Real Player'?

 

Does anysone still use that? I must admit, when most online streaming sources used Real it was a must, but what requires it these days?

[tech_guy]

'Real Player'?

 

Does anysone still use that? I must admit, when most online streaming sources used Real it was a must, but what requires it these days?

 

Unfortunately we have a small minority of staff who will set fire to themselves in the playground if it isn't included in the image.

[SimpleSi]

The point of the exercise is to offer flexibility and choice and to show that there are alternatives out there to the Microsoft offerings

 

And whats that got to do with technical support?

 

Things must be very quiet at your end

 

Si

[chazzy2501]

My goodness, the horror. I try to keep things as vanilla as possible. The teacher won't realize it but by limiting their choices they have a better time.

[tech_guy]

Jesus H Christ, you are mad!

 

Not that I have anything against Ubuntu, but surely that's going to be a support nightmare.

 

Matt

 

I like a challenge. You can come along and laugh at me when I've done it and the user's heads have exploded.

[Dos_Box]

Unfortunately we have a small minority of staff who will set fire to themselves in the playground if it isn't included in the image.

 

Break out the marshmallows and tell them to join the 2010's?

[tech_guy]

I was also thinking of using Rainmeter and RocketDock to create a desktop a bit different as well. Anyone else using / doing this in an educational environment?

[chazzy2501]

I was also thinking of using Rainmeter and RocketDock to create a desktop a bit different as well. Anyone else using / doing this in an educational environment?

 

oh I get it you're joking. ha ha.

[CyberNerd]

We have some very able members of staff who will certainly use the applications / can use the applications. The point of the exercise is to offer flexibility and choice and to show that there are alternatives out there to the Microsoft offerings. I'm also toying with the idea of offering dual boot with Ubuntu as an alernative os.

 

It's actually quite straightforward and we have been offering dual boot to some staff for a number of years.

Provided you get a long term release distro the management is quite painless.

We even have some unlikely converts who use linuxes at home - completely non techie RS and English teacher, the head of ICT, and even our (non techie) SEN manager (whos son supports her at home) - as well as all the techs on site. Linux is fine for technical people who like a different challenge and for complete noobs - it's just the people in between that can't cope.

Caveate - we use Google apps and LibreOffice on site.

[jinnantonnixx]

I like a challenge. You can come along and laugh at me when I've done it and the user's heads have exploded.

 

Landscape | Canonical

[CyberNerd]

Landscape | Canonical

 

Very similar to RHN which has been around for ages

[smalls001]

here a couple more

 

Scratch | Home | imagine, program, share

Kodu - Microsoft Research

[PICNIC]

Freemake Video Converter

Freemake Audio Converter

DVD Styler

Cartes du Ciel

[speckytecky]

Autocollage 2008 - free for Education

[simpsonj]

WinFF for the conversion of audio and movie formats