Software and Freeware

Operating Systems

Linux: ubuntu
While linux is available in a variety of forms, this version runs on both PC and Mac.
http://www.ubuntulinux.org/

Dynebolic
This is a bootable gyn/linux CD. You don't have to install anything. With the CD you have access to multimedia production tools.
http://www.dynebolic.org/

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General Tools

Firefox
open source web browser
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

What makes Firefox interesting are the many extensions available which add different functions to your browser.
Some useful extensions for educaion include

Zotero
"a free, easy-to-use Firefox extension to help you collect, manage, and cite your research sources."

Answers.com
Hold down Alt (or Option on a Mac) and click on any word to get a quick definition, an up-to-the-minute reference and more.

DictionarySearch
Looks up a user selected word in an online dictionary

Linkchecker
Check the validity of links on any webpage.

Greasemonkey
Allows you to customize the way a webpage displays using small bits of JavaScript. (e.g.You can alter pages so they work better with assistive technologies that speak a web page out loud or convert it to Braille)

Platypus
is a Firefox extension which lets you modify a Web page from your browser -- "What You See Is What You Get" -- and then save those changes as a Greasemonkey script so that they'll be repeated the next time you visit the page.

Aardvark
With Aardvark you can clean up unwanted banners and surrounding "fluff," especially prior to printing a page
See how the page is created, block by block
View the source code of one or more elements

It is possible to do group concept maps with several people contributing.

Freemind
Mind-mapping software (PC Mac OS X Linux)
http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Office
A full multiplatform suite: word-processor, spreadsheet, presentation software, draw software and data base.
http://www.openoffice.org/

Tutorial: http://www.tutorialsforopenoffice.org/
Tips on using the equation editor: http://www.dmaths.org/documentation/doku.php?id=presentation:en
OpenOffice.org Math is a useful tool for creating properly formatted functions to import for display in any of the OpenOffice.org applications.

Scribus
Desktop publishing software
http://www.scribus.org.uk/

N/VU
A complete Web Authoring System (Linux, PC, Mac)
http://www.nvu.com/download.html

Juice Receiver
An open source pocast catcher (Linux, PC, Mac). It supports a variety of media players
http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/index.php

Multimedia

Audacity
Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems . It is the software of choice for many educational podcasters.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Tutorial: http://www.agnula.org/documentation/dp_tutorials/audacity/

To export to MP3 you need an encoder.

GIMP
"GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring." GIMP is easy to install and is available for PC, Mac and Linux
http://www.gimp.org/

Support site:
http://www.gimptalk.com/

Tuxpaint
"Tux Paint is a free drawing program designed for young children (kids ages 3 and up). It has a simple, easy-to-use interface, fun sound effects, and an encouraging cartoon mascot who helps guide children as they use the program."
http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/tuxpaint/

Inkscape
"Inkscape is an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, Freehand" Not for the average user - installation requires good technical understanding.
http://www.inkscape.org

Blender
"open source software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback. Available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License." This is a complex programme that could be used in Secondary School for science, technical drawing and pre auto-cad.
http://www.blender.org/

VLC Media Player
"VLC Media Player is a highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, mp3, ogg, ...) as well as DVDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols. It can also be used as a server to stream in unicast or multicast in IPv4 or IPv6 on a high-bandwidth network."
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Programming

Star Logo
"StarLogo is a specialized version of the Logo programming language. With traditional versions of Logo, you can create drawings and animations by giving commands to graphic "turtles" on the computer screen. StarLogo extends this idea by allowing you to control thousands of graphic turtles in parallel."
http://education.mit.edu/starlogo/

NetLogo
NetLogo is a programmable modeling environment for simulating natural and social phenomena.
http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/

NQC
"Not Quite C is a simple language with a C-like syntax that can be used to program Lego's RCX programmable brick (from the Mindstorms set). If you are just getting started with programming, then graphical environments such as the Mindstorms RIS software or Robolab are probably better choices. If, however, you're a C programmer and prefer typing a few lines to drag and drop icon programming, then NQC may be perfect for you"
http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nqc/

Squeak
Squeak is " a modern, open source, highly portable, fast and full-featured implementation of the powerful Smalltalk programming language and environment."
http://www.squeak.org /

Scratch
For Mac and PC - program in a Logo-like environment to create multimedia animations, presentation, games etc.
http://scratch.mit.edu/

e-Learning / Course Management

Dokeos
Dokeos is an elearning and course management web application. A lot of online documentation is available to help with both the technical and pedagogical aspects of setting up Dokeos and using it to develop courses.
http://www.dokeos.com/

Moodle
Moodle is a course management system (CMS) - a free, Open Source software package designed using sound pedagogical principles, to help educators create effective online learning communities.
http://moodle.org/

Subject Specific
Math / Music / Science / Social Science

Math

GEONExT
Geometry and graphing software
http://geonext.uni-bayreuth.de

See examples demonstrating the use of GeoNext at the MST site

Math Trax
Graphing software from NASA
http://learn.arc.nasa.gov/mathtrax/

GeoGebra
"GeoGebra is a dynamic mathematics software that joins geometry, algebra and calculus. It is developed for education in secondary schools."
http://www.geogebra.at

Music

Finale Notepad
Not OSS but free, this is an introductory version of music notation software.
http://www.finalemusic.com/notepad/

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What's the Difference?
Explore different planets and examine the differences. This is another NASA production.
http://learn.arc.nasa.gov/wtd/

Celestia
Explore the solar system. You can visit the planet and stars.
http://www.shatters.net/celestia/

Stellarium
Linux, MacOSX, Windows
This is an open source astronomy programme. "With Stellarium, you really see what you can see with your eyes, binoculars or a small telescope."
http://www.stellarium.org/

Open Office examples en français. There are some excellent resources
http://ooo.hg.free.fr/ooohg/ooohg.htm l

Google Earth
available for PC and Mac
Internet connection required
Explore the globe through continuous satellite images. This is an amazing tools for exploring everything from land use to mapping. The limits are your imagination.
http://earth.google.com/