This document summarizes Justin Keel's presentation on using free and open source software in education. It introduces Keel and outlines several popular open source programs that are free alternatives to commercial software like Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and music/diagramming programs. The presentation also discusses several free web tools for teachers and students, including Prezi, Wordle, Thinkfinity, SlideShare, YouTube, TeacherTube, Picnik, Engrade, Wikispaces, and WordPress. It raises questions about how to determine the best tools for students and how these free resources could be used in the classroom.

1. 8/2/2011
Educational Technology on a Without a Budget
Justin Keel, Instructional Designer
Allegany College of Maryland
Outline
• Introductions
• Open Source Software
– What it is, where it is, and how I can get it!
• Free Web Tools
– Web tools for teachers and students
About Me
• 1999 – Graduate Hyndman Middle-Senior High School
• 2001 – A.S. Degree Allegany College of Maryland
• 2004 – B.S. Degree Frostburg State University
• 2014? – M.E.T. Degree Boise State University
• Instructional Designer, Allegany College of Maryland,
Department of Instructional Technology and Multimedia Services
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About Me
• Married 2005 – Kesha
• Daughter born February 18, 2008 – Daisy
• One more on the way … due in January!
Quote to Ponder
“Technology is only technology to
those born before the technology.”
- Alan Kay
Quote to Ponder
“The teacher knows as little how to
use it as his pupil.”
- What devise was this author talking about?
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• The Chalkboard (1840)
Instructional Technology: Looking Backward, Thinking Forward - YouTube
Video available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdwEIi22Dv8
What is Open Source Software?
• Open-source software (OSS) is computer software
that is available in source code form: the source code
and certain other rights normally reserved for
copyright holders are provided under a software
license that permits users to study, change, improve
and at times also to distribute the software.
Definition from Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org)
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How do I get it?
• Search the web … but be careful
• Use a well known project
– OpenDisc
Graphic above developed using “Wordle” (www.wordle.net)
OpenDisc Education 10.10
• OpenOffice • Inkscape
• Dia • Pencil
• Scribus • Blender
• GanttProject • Tuxpaint
• FreeMind • Audacity
• Firefox • Mixxx
• Thunderbird • MuseScore
• Pidgin • CamStudio
• GIMP • Maxima
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• Writer • Draw
– Comparable to Word – Comparable (but more
– Saves in odt or doc format sophisticated than) Paint
• Calc • Base
– Comparable to Excel – Comparable to Access
– Saves in ods or xls format – Saves in odb or accdb
• Impress
– Comparable to PowerPoint
– Saves in odp or ppt format
Microsoft Office 2010 Home and Student (key only) - $119.99
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Dia Diagram Editor
• Dia is a program to draw structured diagrams
– Similar to Inspiration – (Digital Download $69.00)
Scribus
• Scribus is a professional page layout/publising
program.
– Similar to QuarkXpress, InDesign, and Pagemaker – (Adobe InDesign
CS5.5 $199.99)
• Inkscape is a vector graphics editor
– Similar to Illustrator or CorelDraw – (CorelDraw x5
digital download $399.00)
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• Gimp is a program for photo retouching,
image composition, and image authoring.
– Similar to Photoshop – (Adobe Photoshop CS5
$189.00)
• Audacity is a sound recording and editing program.
• MuseScore is a music notation program
– Similar to Finale – (Finale 2011 $228.99)
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Maxima
• Maxima is a computer algebra system (CAS)
– Maxima is similar to Maple – (Maple 15 Academic Pricing $1,245.00)
• Sellarium is a planetarium program for your computer.
– Similar to Starry Night – (Starry Night Pro 6 $149.95)
Cost Savings
• Just from the programs mentioned in the
previous slides … $2,600.92 per computer!
• There may be times when commercial
software is better …. BUT your students can
use this software at home for free!
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Free Web Tools
Graphic above developed using “Wordle” (www.wordle.net)
• www.prezi.com
• Free account needed. Education account
gives you more free tools.
• Prezi is a presentation tool. Used to make
“non-linear” presentations.
• Example
• www.wordle.net
• No account needed
• Create word clouds (used in this presentation)
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• www.thinkfinity.org
• Log in needed for available training (TIMS)
• A resource site of audio and video files, lesson
plans, interactive activities, worksheets and
more. Forums for students, parents, and
teachers.
• www.slideshare.net
• Free account needed
• Use your Slide Share account to share your
presentations and documents with your
audience
• View this presentation and handouts at
http://www.slideshare.net/jkeel
• www.youtube.com
• No account needed (unless you want to post
videos)
• Used to access videos for all content areas and
ages (always preview first)!
• Videos in this presentation are from YouTube
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• www.teachertube.com
• Free account needed to post items
• A sharing site for teachers … videos,
documents, audio, photos, …
• www.picnik.com
• Free account optional
• Used to edit (and save) photos
• www.engrade.com
• Free account needed (student/parent
accounts also available)
• Grade book / homework calendar / discussion board /
attendance / more!
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• www.wikispaces.com
• Free K-12 education account needed
• Create a class wiki, give permission for
students to edit pages within your wiki
www.khanacademy.org
Video available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6l8-1kHUsA&feature=player_embedded
• www.wordpress.com
• Free account needed
• Create personal website/blog
• Sample from the Department of Educational
Technology at Boise State University.
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The Big Questions
• With these and many more tools available,
how do we decide what tools are best for our
students to use?
The Big Questions
• What are you planning on using in your
classroom to enhance student learning?
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
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15. 8/2/2011
Did You Know 3.0 - YouTube
Video available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygMPyP7qIkU&feature=related
Questions?
Contact Me
Justin Keel
Allegany College of Maryland
Technologies Building
T-27
jkeel@allegany.edu
(301) 784 5636
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