The RIS department has started a discussing about providing SMS text messages. However, how to send SMS messages from a computer / PC is still quite new in academic libraries. I did a little search and from I have found most of the services are not free.
Some other interesting discussions include how do Chinese people text? I took some pictures from my nephew's cell phones, one uses the old one-finger touch keys, the other use a writing pad, very smart!
We are revising our research consultation form because we got so many requests this semester and would like to change from 24 hours respond to 48 hours. This might be a good time to use Google Form. Please test it for me:)
The best session I attended at AECT 2008 was this one presented by Dr. Odin Jurkowski. The list was based on his ppt file. For questions, please contact Dr. Jurkowski at jurkowski@ucmo.edu
Web Browsers
• Firefox http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/
• Google Chrome http://www.google.com/chrome
• Opera http://www.opera.com/
• Camino http://caminobrowser.org/ Mozilla for mac
• Safari http://www.apple.com/safari/
Office Productivity
• OpenOffice http://www.openoffice.org/
• NeoOffice http://www.neooffice.org/neojava/en/index.php (Mac)
• AbiWord http://www.abisource.com/
• Google Docs http://docs.google.com for working online
• Google Apps http://www.google.com/a/help/intl/en/edu/included.html
• Scribus http://www.scribus.net/ Desktop publishing
Wikis & Blogs & Social
• Wikispaces http://www.wikispaces.com/
• pbwiki http://pbwiki.com/
• Blogger http://www.blogger.com
• ePALS http://www.epals.com/
• WordPress http://wordpress.org/ create your own blogs
• Elgg http://elgg.org/ create your own social network
Communication
• Skype http://www.skype.com/
• Google Talk http://www.google.com/talk/
• AIM http://dashboard.aim.com/aim
• Pidgin http://pidgin.im/ multi-protocol instant messaging
• Jabber http://www.jabber.org/
Images
• Gimp http://www.gimp.org/ (similar to Photoshop)
• Inkscape http://www.inkscape.org/ Vector graphics (similar to Adobe Illustrator)
• Blender http://www.blender.org/ 3D modeling
• Google Sketchup http://sketchup.google.com/
Screen Capture
• Zscreen http://www.brandonz.net/projects/zscreen/
• Greenshot http://greenshot.sourceforge.net/
Screen Casting
• CamStudio http://camstudio.org/
• Wink http://www.debugmode.com/wink/
• Jing http://www.jingproject.com/
Audio
• Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Video
• Windows Movie Maker
• Jashaka http://jahshaka.org/
• Jumpcut http://jumpcut.com/ online video editing
• JayCut http://jaycut.com/ online video editing
Web Editing
• Nvu http://nvudev.com/index.php
• KompoZer http://www.kompozer.net/
• Amaya http://www.w3.org/Amaya/
• Bluefish http://bluefish.openoffice.nl/
• SeaMonkey http://www.seamonkey-project.org/
AntiVirus
• Avast http://www.avast.com/
• ClamWin http://www.clamwin.com/
• Avira http://www.free-av.com/en/products/index.html
Utilities
• Filezilla http://filezilla-project.org/ FTP
• CoffeeCup http://www.coffeecup.com/free-ftp/ FTP
• 7-Zip http://www.7-zip.org/ Zip
• Wuala http://wua.la/ Social Online Storage
• FOG http://www.fogproject.org/ Ghost
• OpenVPN http://www.openvpn.net/ VPN
Course Management Systems
• Moodle http://moodle.org/
•
• Claroline http://www.claroline.net/
• NineHub http://ninehub.com/ Free Moodle Hosting
Library Automation
• koha http://www.koha.org/
• emilda http://www.emilda.org/
Educational
• Celestia http://www.shatters.net/celestia/ Space
• Stellarium http://www.stellarium.org/ Planetarium
• Tux Typing http://tuxtype.sourceforge.net/ Typing
• Typing Web http://www.typingweb.com/ Free online typing
• Tux Paint http://www.tuxpaint.org/ Drawing
• Scratch http://scratch.mit.edu/
Other
• Cmap http://cmap.ihmc.us/ Mind mapping
• FreeMind http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page Mind mapping
• gliffy http://www.gliffy.com/ Flow chart
• Zamzar http://zamzar.com/ File conversion
• GanttProject http://ganttproject.biz/
• GnuCash http://www.gnucash.org/ Account software
• FET http://www.lalescu.ro/liviu/fet/ Scheduling software
• Adeona http://adeona.cs.washington.edu/index.html Laptop tracking
The Association of Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) conference was held at Orlando from November 4th-8th. Some highlights of this year’s conference include:
1. AECT 2008 and UNI- the president was Dr. Mary Herrings from Curriculum and Instruction at UNI. One of the conference planners was Dr. Ana Donaldson from UNI. Dr. Z gave a workshop and a presentation about Web 2.0 and open sources. I gave a showcase about multimedia design and development process. And I met Dr. Bill Callahan Dean of the College of Education.
2. Study Tour- This year, AECT offered 2 study tours to the University of Central Florida. I attended the one that visited the Institute for Simulation and Training (IST). IST is one of the nation leading research centers for simulation, training, modeling, virtual, augmented, and mixed reality research for both defense and commercial applications. Involving students in real-world research has resulted in numerous undergraduate and graduate student research positions. IST is helping to define the future of simulation and training and is charged with identifying new directions for this technology. IST support comes from government and industry sponsors. Current research efforts include computer generated forces, embedded training, virtual, mixed and augmented reality, computer graphics, high performance parallel processing, interactive entertainment, public safety, advanced distributed learning, computer-controlled robotics, human factors, and behavioral science.
3. Joint University reception: 13 universities participated the reception including Florida State, Brigham Young Univ, Indiana Univ, Nothern Illinois Univ, Nova Southeastern Univ, Pen State, University of Georgia, Univ of Central Florida, Univ of Memphis, Univ of New Maxico, Univ of North Dakota, UNI and Utah State Univ. They had tables and some giveaways.
4. Keynote speakers:
Dr. George Strawn is the NSF’s Chief Information Officer, his opening keynote was about The Future of Education and IT: (http://clifmims.com/blog/archives/640). He provided some statistical data from the past and his projections in the future for “IT-based learning.” He concluded that perhaps education won't be for job training anymore, but still for democracy and for good live.
Dr. James Paul Gee from May Lou Fulton College of Education. His suggests that good video games are designed to enhance learning through effective learning principles supported by research in the learning sciences. Also suggests thinking about how game based learning can help reform schools.
Dr. Allison Rossert from San Diego State University. Her ending keynote was about using blended learning opportunities to support learning. I also attended her other two sessions focused on Performance Support.
5. Conference focuses-
Virtual worlds and mobile learning
Educational Transformation
Instructional Design Culture
Serious Gaming for Education
6. AECT 2009- will be held at Louisville Kentucky in October 2009. The main theme is Integrative Approaches Meeting Challenges with six sub-themes:
Transforming Learning and Instruction
Linking Design and Development with Learning and Performance
Establishing the Benefits of Integrative and Interdisciplinary Approaches
Exploring New Media in Learning, Instruction and Performance
Assessing and Evaluating Educational Technology Applications
Integrating Social Networking and Distributed Media into Learning and Instruction
