With the growth of the use of tablets like the Apple iPad, we have gotten frequent questions about what the best set of basic applications that one might consider that would be either free or affordable for most programs and students. What follows is a brief list of some of the iPad applications that have been used and recommended by others. Any reference to a specific product or service is not an endorsement but rather an example of the kinds of programs that are available for use. A simple $100 budget can provide a lot of functionality for an iPad.
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In the process of attending the recent 2012 Computer Users in Education (CUE) conference, a number of resources were shared that dealt with digital media production as well as digital storytelling. These resources and those that have come forward from my own experience can provide TRIO programs with some powerful video editing, media resources, and utilities that are either free or very inexpensive. Read the rest of this entry »
At the 2012 Computer-Using Educators (CUE) conference in Palm Springs, CA there was a gathering of educators to learn about the latest applications and practices for integrating technology into instruction. One of the many sessions attended was one on quality online graphics applications presented by David Hoerger. This post will share a few of the online applications that are either free or require minimal licensing costs to be used by educational programs. Each of these digital image manipulation applications has the ability to:
- Provide basic editing tools
- Apply effects to an image or photograph
- Provide basic capabilities similar to Adobe Photoshop Elements
The top three graphics application programs with the most features that were found to be of particular interest were:
Aviary is a suite of powerful creative applications that are available just by using your Web browser. This includes:
- Phoenix, an image editor that utilizes layers, masks, effects, undo history, and other desirable functionality.
- Peacock, a powerful effects editor
- Talon, a screen capture application
- Raven, a vector editor
- Roc, a music creator
- Myna, an audio editor
- Falcon, an image markup application
- Toucan, a swatch color editor
In addition, Aviary has a fantastic set of tutorials and supports education by providing classroom accounts for educators. Read the rest of this entry »
Google SketchUp is a software we newly added this year to the list of TRIO Quest resources. It is a 3D modeling software, which can be used to design small objects, buildings, and even entire cities. 3D modeling softwares tend to be intimidating to learn because they are so extensive, but we have returned from CUE with a selection cool tips and tricks to share with you that we hope will encourage you and your students to explore the possibilities of creating with Google SketchUp. Read the rest of this entry »
This is the third of a four part series on how to get the best tech for your needs at the best price. If you haven’t already, you might want to read Part 1- Figure Out What You Need, Part 2 -Find the Best Items for Your Needs or Part 3 Finding the Best Price from a Source You Can Trust.
The other three posts in this series showed you a way to get the best prices with the fewest hassles on the tech items you need. For some items like software and hardware bought directly from the manufacturer, however, you might want to take an entirely different tact.
Academic institutions often get special pricing on select technology items. You might be familiar with academic pricing for software or computers available to staff and students at your campus bookstore or tech center. But academic departments can often get even better prices by taking advantage of volume pricing available from many manufacturers or software companies. If your institution has negotiated a campus-wide pricing agreement, these discounts can be huge. If they have already purchased a campus license for a particular software title or service, you might even be able to get it for free!
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