Decentralising the classroom

This is a reference copy of a handout given to those attending my "Decentralising the Classroom" workshop today. It lists the tools used or mentioned during the workshop.

• Software
• Blogging
• I used Google’s Blogger (www.blogger.com) system, but many others exist – either free (like Blogger) or commercial with greater facilities, for example TypePad (www.typepad.com).
• Concept mapping
• I used Inspiration and SIMILE today. Inspiration available from www.taglearning.com, SIMILE from www.simulistics.com
  
• Free alternatives to Inspiration include FreeMind (http://freemind.sourceforge.net, requires Java 1.5) and ThinkGraph (http://thinkgraph.com).
• Concept modelling
• I used SIMILE (www.simulistics.com) which in my opinion is the best UML based example (see article). Others include Vensim and STELLA.
• Atebion (http://www.atebion.co.uk) offers a different approach, based on student familiarity with spreadsheets.
• Imaging
• The flexibly zoomable and explorable images were generated ZOOMIFYER. This can be downloaded free from www.zoomify.com, but if you’re not comfortable with it in its raw form you may prefer to use it within EASY IMAGER from Fookes Software (http://www.fookes.com) – download a 30 day trial to see if it suits you, before buying.
• Internet website markup
• I used iMarkup (http://www.imarkup.com) which is limited to use with Internet Explorer (doesn’t work with FireFox, unfortunately) but several others exist.
• Resource referencing
• I used EndNote (http://www.endnote.com) which is the most widely used example. Others include ProCite and ReferenceManager (both very similar to EndNote) and Biblioscape (bigger, more complex, will run a small library for you).
• Web editing
• I used FrontPage - part of the Microsoft Office installation on most college machines. There are many editors, many of them (DreamWeaver, for example) offering more bells and whistles than FrontPage ... but for quick, easy replacement of Word for the production of teaching materials, FrontPage can’t be beaten. If you can use Word, you can use FrontPage.
• Hardware
• Digitiser pads (aka Graphics tablets) - available in sizes A6-A2, with or without built in screens, wireless or wired, prices £14-£5000.
• The high quality A5+ sized blue one I used is from Wacom (see almost any good computer shop, or try www.tablet4u.co.uk) - this one cost £70 but they range from about £35 (A6 size PenPartner) upwards.
• The cheap and cheerful A4+ size one wass one of a range made by made by Aiptek. Mine was £64 from the gadget store (www.thegadgetstore.com).
• Wireless input devices
• Mouse & Keyboard - mine from Logitech (http://www.logitech.com), £30 the pair.
• Other good alternatives include Genius (http://www.geniusnet.com.tw)
• Digitiser pads (see above) are also available in wireless versions.