Archive for the 'Software' Category
Scratch MIT is a free and very flexible piece of animation, game-creation and programming software for Windows and Mac. To support Wolverhampton LA’s training of teaching staff in the use of the city’s chosen learning platform, LPPlus, I recorded this screencast introducing Scratch and showing how Scratch creations can be embedded into the learning platform.
To see the screencast at higher resolution go here.
Read the rest of this entry »
filed under News and Software December 12th, 2009 Richard Anderson
Over the last couple of months, there have been a number of articles popping up in my RSS newsfeeds in Google Reader, or shared via Twitter, that share a common theme: how can software and web tools support creative writing and story-telling?
In a short series of blog posts, I’m going to try to pull together a set of ideas, resources and links under the following headings: Read the rest of this entry »
filed under Best of the Web and Software and Views December 16th, 2008 Richard Anderson
On Monday, I worked with Year 9 students from The Northicote School in the first day of a three day project focussing on Science and Maths.
We used a variety of technologies to explore two of the key principles of the Key Stage 3 Science curriculum; energy and forces.
Read the rest of this entry »
filed under Best of the Web and Software November 21st, 2008 Richard Anderson
While searching for some resources to support a forthcoming session at the CLC, I came across Phun (http://www.phunland.com/wiki/Home). Phun is a fascinating tool for playing with the physics of objects. You can draw simple shapes, alter their physical principles (density, friction etc.) and manipulate them - throw or push them around, or collide them with one another.
Read the rest of this entry »
filed under Best of the Web and Software November 10th, 2008 Richard Anderson
Apple computers are appearing in more of our schools. Small suites in Secondary Media Studies or Art Departments are not uncommon. A primary school may even have a couple of MacBooks or a Mac mini for podcasting or editing video.
For most, the reason these computers have managed to break the long-standing dominance of Windows is .. iLife. The iLife suite, Apple’s integrated collection of media tools - iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, iDVD, iTunes - is a fantastic collection of tools for all forms of media manipulation. The intuitive ease-of-use of these tools, and the way they link together so seamlessly, makes them an easy sell for Apple. For many schools, educators, or departments, iLife is THE reason to buy a Mac. (Oh, that and the fact they look quite cool too).
Read the rest of this entry »
filed under Software and Views November 1st, 2008 Richard Anderson
While teaching Web Design to Key Stage 4 students, I’ve spent a lot of time this week with The Jing Project, TechSmith’s new (free, for now) screen capturing software for both Windows and Mac. From their website:
The concept of Jing is the always-ready program that instantly captures and shares images and video…from your computer to anywhere.
Read the rest of this entry »
filed under Software November 9th, 2007 Richard Anderson
One of my favourite applications for Mac OS X, Comic Life, has just been released for Windows XP / Vista. Comic Life allows students to create comics, how-tos or picture albums by combining together digital photos with speech and thought bubbles, text, and authentic comic-style layouts and fonts. It’s great fun and almost impossibly easy to use.
Check pricing on the plasq website. There’s a free 30-day trial available for download, so you can test drive it for yourself. Read the rest of this entry »
filed under Software October 19th, 2007 Richard Anderson
There is a considerable "buzz" in the world of software at the moment about a new breed of software applications labelled together as "Open Source". What does this mean?
Traditionally, we have been able to categorise software into 3 main categories:
Read the rest of this entry »
filed under Software February 9th, 2006 Richard Anderson
If you haven’t seen Google Earth yet, try it now; you are missing out on one of the greatest pieces of educational software ever released. The free (yes, free) Earth simulation goes from strength to strength. The latest imagery for Wolverhampton is truly stunning:
Read the rest of this entry »
filed under Software February 5th, 2006 Richard Anderson
In the last couple of days, I have discovered the fantastic new software "Google Earth" - an amazing 3D simulation of Planet Earth based around satellite imagery (in some cases down to building level). The software is an amazing tool for learning about our home planet. Highly recommended!
http://earth.google.com/
Read the rest of this entry »
filed under Software July 27th, 2005 Richard Anderson