Web-links
to FREE Software Downloads
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Installing
these free software programs on your own computer will allow you to access
files on the FDU Web server and to work on building your Website pages from
off-campus or home.
ArtRage | CutePDF | OpenOffice |FreeMind | Portable Apps | more1. FTP Client Software: Use to access files on the Web server
WS_FTP
LE by Ipswitch is the program on your FDU computer that
allows you to move your Website files to the Web server, so your site
can be viewed on the Internet.
The bad news is that WS_FTP LE is no longer offered to students
and teachers for free. But here's the good news! There is a better
product available from Core FTP, without cost, that you can download for
use at home.
Application name: Core
FTP Lite – available free for students and teachers.
To get this much improved tool, go to http://coreftp.com
and follow the on-screen directions to download and install the program. (Note: You can install this program to your jump-drive if you want to use it as a portable application. It is suggested you first create a folder you name "Program Files" on your drive, then do the installation to that folder.) MAC
users: CoreFTP only runs on the Windows PC. See FireFTP below for a tool that will work for you.
I don't have a tutorial on this site for Core FTP. However, links to WS_FTP LE tutorials are offered below as this is the application on your FDU computer. Note that the logon procedure & setup information is the same for both tools.
Go to Professor Debren's
online tutorial on using
WS_FTP LE. Or, for developer's tutorials go to http://tutorial.ftpplanet.com/LE/
(Online guides to using the Ipswitch FTP client.) Additional information,
including an introductory guide to FTP, can be found at http://www.ftpplanet.com/tutorial/.+++
Download sounds for Core FTP
+++
MAC
users: FireFTP should work well for you. Advanced users might consider other products
such as Transmit
by Panic. (It's not free but the trial version will still work without payment following the trial period, with limited features.) You
might also consider another program called Fetch
for $25 (free trial). Advanced Mac users might also want to look at Fugu, which offers secure Internet transmissions. Note that if you own or plan to buy a Web authoring program,
most have an FTP client already built in.
Overview
of the FTP Process: This brief presentation
might help to make the process of uploading and downloading
your files to the FDU Web server a bit less confusing. Click
here to download or view a brief animated PowerPoint presentation. (Note:
You must use Internet Explorer ver. 5 or higher to view in your Web browser;
alternately, you can download the file as a PowerPoint presentation.)
After viewing the presentation, close the browser window to return
to this page.
2.
IrfanView Graphics Editor (see note below*) Windows-PC only
– Click for IrfanView homepage (Download here or from alternate site below)Alternate site for downloading IrfanView and optional plug-ins:
Download from -- CNet Download.com
IrfanView is a very fast, small, compact and innovative graphics editor for Windows, free for educational and non-commercial use. It's a very powerful product (see note below), yet compact enough to be installed on your jump-drive -- making it a truly portable application for use on-the-go. (You'll find more about portable apps below.)
Optional PLUG-INS: These extensions to IrfanView add many capabilities to the program. Install these as a single file using the full package (.exe option) from the IrfanView site. Note that if you later upgrade IrfanView, you should always install the newest plug-ins as well.
* IrfanView is a fast and simple image viewer and editor that supports all major graphic formats.
Here are just some of the ways the IrfanView graphics editing tool can help improve the graphics on your Web site. You can use IrfanView to: Crop images; resize images (using the resampling method); change file formats (including Microsoft clip-art & Word-art to GIFs or JPGs); create transparent GIF images; place text on top of graphics or photos; determine image properties; modify JPG quality & color depth (2 methods to optimize file size); convert JPGs to progressive JPGs; convert GIFs to interlaced GIFs; add image effects (more with plug-ins); enhance colors (brightness, contrast, color balance); sharpen images; rotate images; capture screen images; create graphic images from any font on your computer; and even make 3-D buttons from photos or graphic images.
Quite impressive for a free software program!
The GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. It is sometimes compared to Adobe Photoshop, but it's free. Well, it won't do everything Photoshop will do, but for most, this may be all you need. There are both Windows and Mac versions available. Go to the official GIMP website... or, use the links below for recommended software versions. (Note: GIMP is more powerful than IrfanView, but more difficult to master.)
Netscape Navigator Archived Products Site - Download ver 7.2 for "Composer"
Here is another good online tutorial (though designed for an earlier version of Composer), a simple Mozilla Composer Guide from the University of Washington. Finally, still one more recommended
online tutorial for Netscape Composer version 7.x and some helpful tips from UVic.
To download the "Mozilla" browser, which still includes Composer,click here.
(Note: Do not download Mozilla "Foxfire," as this does not include Composer.)
(Note: Do not download Mozilla "Foxfire," as this does not include Composer.)
6. Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer Used to view presentations without PowerPoint
Want to view a Powerpoint presentation, or share one you've created... but, you don't have the Microsoft PowerPoint program installed on your computer. You can download a free viewer from Microsoft's Website that will let you run your file without having the full PowerPoint program installed. Note that many of the newer PowerPoint features are not supported by the free player (such as some advanced animations and hyperlinks to connect to the Internet), and you will not be able to edit the file, but you will be able to view and print the full presentation. Go to Microsoft's Powerpoint Viewer 2003 download site for more details, or download the program from this site & read my installation notes. Note that free viewers are also available for MS Word and Excel.
(I recommend you install the v 1.9+ beta version for advanced features). Note that this is a large file. You may want to order the program on a CD if you have a dial-up connection to the Web.
Interested in learning to use a new multimedia production tool? The School of Education has recently purchased a site license for eZediaQTI. Visit the eZedia Web site to learn more. Note: This software can be run on Windows-PC or Mac computers and is free to FDU students, low-cost to others.
♦ Movies Extractor Scout Lite - is a free utility that will allow your to save Macromedia Flash applications that appear on many Web sites. Click the link to go to the ByteScout.com download page, then scroll down near the bottom to find the free version of this useful tool.
| Did you know there are many free (and low cost) programs that you can use to add fun to the learning experience, especially for younger students? |  |
| ♦ For example, click here to see sample products of two graphics programs for children... and for some adults. |
| top |
For a Free Rubric Building Website: Go to Rubistar
...and be sure to take a look at Kathy Schrock's Discovery School resourses.
| LISTSERVS and NEWSGROUPS: Take advantage of the many teacher resources on the Web. Take a look at BLUE WEB'N - an online library of over 2000 outstanding Internet sites, with monthly updates sent to you by email. |
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| ♦ Join one of the many Web-based services for teachers to keep abreast of the latest technology products and services in your field of study. |
Future tech coordinators/system administrators. In addition to the software products shown above, there are also a number of free (or low cost) software applications that can be run from your school's Web server. The applications below are currently used at the School of Education - and include Userland's Manila Website publishing system (EdFolio), Tenon's iTools software (used to support Web hosting on EdWeb), the OWL online document management system (SOE's Thinkwell), and Moodle, a free online course management system. See me for more information about these and other enterprise software packages.
“Internet for Educators” Class Links and Information
EdWeb home | EdFolio site | Class WebRing | Course Outline | Course Overview | Site Map
Page last updated 2/25/2008
Professor
Allen Debren - School of Education - Fairleigh Dickinson University