Neat Image Viewing Application

SimpleViewer is a lovely, flash based, image viewing application. SimpleViewer has a customizable interface where the text color, frame color and width plus navigation position can all be changed.

SimpleViewer also boasts an interface that scales to fit the browser window. Beware though, SimpleViewer is designed for showing, at most, around 50 images per gallery. Anything more than this will be too slow and the program may freeze!

Flash7 or higher is also required.

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Technorati Tags: flash, graphics, simpleviewer

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A Picture Paints a 1000 words....

And, I think, this one paints even more. If this picture doesn't get the words flowing then nothing will! It's truly amazing.

Adam, shown above, is just one of many superb mosaics that can be found at Mural Mosaic.

A feast for the eyes!

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Technorati Tags: graphics, murial mosaic

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Document Mangement and Collaboration

Epiware is a "powerful open source alternative for Enterprise Document Management" enabling users to collaborate on projects, share documents, create schedules, and manage tasks.

Epiware contains many features including calendar, wiki, tasking/gantt chart, news room, metadata search, controlled folder access and check-in/check-out.

Haven't used it yet, but Epiware looks like a very useful tool that could be used by teachers and/or students to collaborate effectively on a range of projects.

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Technorati Tags: collaboration, document management, epiware, metadata, wiki

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Top Ten Learning Tools 2008

It's time to submit your Top Ten Learning Tools for 2008! Join in with other learning professionals from around the world who have contributed their Top 10 Learning Tools so far.

Just a few of those are pictured here!

Entries are open from the 1st January to 31st March.

All the contributions will be used to build the Top 100 Tools for Learning 2008. No need to worry if you change your mind as you will be able to update your list again, in the summer, before the Top 100 Tools list is finalised.

In the meantime you can always have a look at the Top 100 Tools 2007 compiled from 109 professionals last year. It will be very interesting to see just how different the two lists will be.

I have already added My Top Ten, all open source/free in keeping with the spirit of my blog of course!

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Technorati Tags: learning tool, professional

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Qedoc - The Queen of Quiz Makers

Qedoc provides interactive educational resources that anyone can use and change. The resources on the Qedoc Wiki Site are centred on quiz-making and quiz-taking. However, Qedoc is much more than just quiz making software and it can be used to build meaningful interactive learning content.

All quizzes are made using the Qedoc Quiz Maker. The completed quizzes are accessed through the Qedoc Quiz Player.

The Quiz Maker software is free to use provided that you share your quizzes on the Qedoc Wiki Site and provided that they have "acceptable content".

The Quiz Maker provides for 94 different types of questions including variations of multiple choice, cloze, matching, typed response and mathematical. Likert scale survey questions are also included.

Some of the resources can be exported to other platforms including Moodle. The submitted quizzes are organised into categories using keywords to allow for easy searching. Several super-categories (portals) have also been created to assist with finding relevant quizzes - as shown below.

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Technorati Tags: likert scale, moodle, qedoc, quiz, wiki

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Join in Interactive Discussions with TalkShoe

Just completed my first TalkShoe session yesterday, with Mike Temple, and was impressed with this new Web 2.0 tool. Essentially, TalkShoe is a "service that enables anyone to easily create, join, or listen to live interactive discussions, conversations, podcasts and audioblogs".

The recorded calls are available immediately after recording stops and can be listened to, downloaded, or subscribed to.

Once you have registered you can start listening in on any of the live calls straight away. But, in order to join in the conversation you first need to install the TalkShoe software. Once this is done, you can easily join in the conversation by using your computer (microphone and speakers) or your phone.

It seems like a very easy way to introduce students to podcasting, since all the technical stuff is done behind the scenes! For the more advanced students, the resulting podcast can be downloaded and edited in Audacity. I think TalkShoe also has great potential for use with language classes and will also appeal to any budding talk show hosts!

At present there are over 300 shows listed in education and over 650 in technology. Something for everyone?

Mike will be broadcasting again next Saturday evening at 8pm GMT (3pm EST, 12midday PST and Sunday 7am down under in Melbourne!!) with a view to discussing the edublogs platform and web 2.0 tools. Everyone is welcome to join in. :)

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Technorati Tags: edublogs, itunes, podcast, talkshoe, web2.0

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Handy Typing Tutors

Rapid Typing is a handy little typing tutor, which uses a simple yet colourful interface.

Essentially, Rapid Typing is a typing game, where the training takes place in a "virtual picturesque underwater world" adding some fun to the training. As you improve your typing level "more nice underwater creatures will come to light". The underwater scene is, indeed, very colourful if not somewhat distracting - although you can switch off the animation if you want to.



Rapid Typing provides training statistics including wpm or cpm, with the statistics reflecting typing speed and accuracy.

Keyboard emulation, where the keys and finger workplaces are highlighted, is also provided by Rapid Typing. Interestingly, several different keyboard layouts are provided.

Rapid Typing lets you can choose the order in which to complete the typing lessons and you can create your own extra exercises. Multiple users with their own personal settings are supported, which is very handy for the classroom setting.

To add to all this, Rapid Typing may be installed or just run from a memory stick as a portable application!

However, if you simply want to practice your typing online then visit Peter's Online Course, recommended by Zaid. You could also try PowerTyping, another free online typing tutor. Kevin recommends the online BBC typing tutorial. This one is aimed at the younger kids but is great fun for anyone learning typing.

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Technorati Tags: keyboarding, rapid typing, typing

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Free Resources for Teachers by Teachers (2)

The Teacher Resource Exchange is a database of resources created by teachers. In fact, "all resources on the TRE are checked by subject specialists to ensure they are of the highest possible quality".

The Teacher Resource Exchange has been designed to "help teachers develop and share ideas for activities and resources". At present, the resources are grouped into over twenty categories (or subject areas).

There is no need to register to gain access to the resources - just jump right in! Here's a little flash ICT matching game submitted by Joanne Giles (just click on two computers to get going).

ICT Matching Game

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Technorati Tags: resources, teacher resource exchange, tre

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Online PDF Manipulator

PDF Hammer is a neat little tool for rearranging and extracting pages from your existing pdf files.

With PDF Hammer you can "edit PDF documents right now inside your browser. Once you start, you will be able to upload one or more PDF files into your project, arrange the pages in any order you wish, and delete any pages you don't want".

When you have finished, you simply export the final document and save it to your computer.

PDF Hammer is still in Beta testing and new features promised will include the ability to rotate pages and to apply watermarks or stamps. Found this handy little tool thanks to Judy's blog.

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Technorati Tags: pdf online, watermark

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Ulteo Online Desktop now Available

I have just been checking out the Ulteo full online desktop and am very impressed.  The Ulteo desktop provides access to a myriad of tools which all run within the desktop. The categories include applications, development, graphics, Internet, multimedia, office, edutainment and utilities. Most of the categories link to four/five programs or more!

I particularly liked the edutainment section which includes educational language, mathematics, geography and science programs. The desktop runs a little slow but this could be down to my 'oldish' machine and/or Internet connection.

 

Overall, I am very excited about Ulteo. I think it may be the next best thing to sliced bread! Long may it remain free for all - and especially those in education. Although it is early days yet, it may also be my top tool for 2008.

Happy New Year! :)

Update: 10/5/2009 - Individual virtual desktop no longer available but the Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop is available for download and installation on your own server.

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Technorati Tags: edutainment, online desktop, ulteo

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Online Storage for all File Types

DivShare provides "free, unlimited storage and sharing for your documents and media". An easy to use folder structure, for organising your files, is also provided by DivShare. For added security, you can  password protect any of your folders.

When looking for files, you can view all files with the same format - with just one click. You can also carry out a keyword search.

Another useful feature, in DivShare, is the document viewer, which allows you to view all PDFs, Word documents and PowerPoint presentations right on the DivShare download page - helpful for sharing files with people who don’t have the right software. Also very useful for storing and viewing those blocked YouTube and Flickr files - so long as DivShare itself is not blocked!! The original file format can still be downloaded.

Uploading files is straight forward and by installing an activeX addon you can use the 'drag and drop' upload feature, which makes it even easier again!

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Technorati Tags: divshare, media, online storage

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Online Research Tutorial

The Internet Detective is a very useful tutorial for students in further and higher education and should help them develop good Internet research skills, which can be put to use for producing their coursework.

The tutorial examines the critical thinking required when using the Internet for research and offers good "practical advice on evaluating the quality of web sites". The Internet Detective also delves into the thorny issues of plagiarism and copyright.

It is very easy to work through the various sections with lots of interactive exercises provided to make the journey interesting enough to keep going.

The tutorial also includes several quizzes along the way to test the readers attention to the content given! A very useful ready-made resource.

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Technorati Tags: copyright, internet detective, plagiarism, research skills

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Building Content on WikiEducator

You can, now, join in with a "dynamic and exciting community of educators who believe passionately that learning materials should be free and open to all" by adding your own content to WikiEducator.

By joining WikiEducator you can make a contribution way beyond the confines of your own classroom.

Content on WikiEducator is organised into three sectors: primary, secondary and tertiary. There is also a separate section for professional development.

In WikiEducator, I came across this interesting link about using a wiki to create simple games/stories. One of the many interesting and useful links and resources that have already been included.

Several major projects are also listed such as ALISON, a free global learning experience, mentioned previously on this blog!

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Technorati Tags: alison, professional development, wiki, wikieducator

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Edit Clip Art Images in OpenOffice Impress

Use OpenOffice Impress as an image editor! Didn't know you could do this until I read Amit's article about Powerpoint!

You can change existing clip art graphics in Impress so that the image appears more relevant to your particular presentation. You can also combine edited images to create new graphics.

 

Once the image has been inserted in a slide, simply right click on it and select 'Break'. Then you can select the individual elements and move or delete them. When you are finished, join everything together again by right clicking on the image and selecting 'Group'. It's as easy as that.

Create all sorts of new graphics - limited only by your own imagination. Thanks for the tip Amit!

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Technorati Tags: clipart, graphics, openoffice impress

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OpenOffice in your Browser!

OpenOffice has never been more accessible!

Not only can you download it, you can also run it as a portable application and now you can access the latest version in your browser (no download required) thanks to Ulteo.

Ulteo allows you to save documents online (with password protection) as well as upload and download files as required. Storage space of 1GB is provided. There is also a very useful share option where you can invite others to view your OpenOffice documents as you are using them!

Ulteo have now also included a full online desktop feature - closed to new users at present.

The beta testers have already reported many benefits of Ulteo's innovative service including:

• trying out desktop applications with one click without the long and tedious download, install and potential un-install process - with no impact on your machine
• collaborate in a very easy manner with others on desktop applications
• provide online training with the share feature
• OpenOffice is automatically updated with new upgrades
• use mail (with thunderbird) through the Ulteo interface
• surf within the Ulteo online desktop
• save and use most IM protocols - even use Skype
• build your own digital desktop even if you don't own a PC

First came across Ulteo on Jane's eLearning blog.

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Technorati Tags: openoffice, skype, ulteo

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Free Resources for Teachers by Teachers (1)

The TES resource bank is a place where you can share materials with other teachers and recommend your favourite teaching resources.

TES makes it easy for you to upload and download files and direct other users to websites that you have found useful.

Once registered, you are allowed to freely use the resource bank to download any useful material. Resources are divided into over twenty different categories.

The ICT section, alone, has 270 resources!

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Technorati Tags: ict, resources, tes

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Language Learning Assistant

Lingro provides an online environment "that allows anyone learning a language to quickly look up and learn the vocabulary most important to them". English, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish and German are all catered for on Lingro.

As well as providing a normal dictionary, Lingro also provides a web viewer and a file viewer.

The web viewer opens a website in the Lingro viewer and allows you to select individual words for translation.

On selection, a translation box appears. This may be left open or closed before the next word is selected.

The file viewer translates files that are uploaded from your computer (txt, doc and pdf formats).

Lingro also provides study tools in the form of word lists and flash card games.

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Technorati Tags: flash, language, lingro, translation

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