Very often you come across software, hardware, concepts and techniques that can really ease various aspects of both teaching and learning. Some of them have a profound, immediate effect on your work, and others take a little longer to develop. Some of them change over time, such as freeware changing to shareware as the developer realizes that there's a market. Others are less tangible and more permanent, such as the axiom that people learn best when they are motivated.
This page presents a few of my favorite tools that I have found useful. Since I'm not a famous person, these are not endorsements in any way, and they're offered merely as a starting point for your own search. I always start with the word "freeware" in Google :)
Type |
Tool |
Use/Value/Suggestions |
Sample/ Resource |
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Software |
Screen Control |
You display a student's screen on the classroom screen and work through a problem for the benefit of all. If necessary you can disable all screens. |
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Software |
Clipboard Saver |
When you're doing any sort of class preparation, it's handy to have a clipboard cache to hold pictures and text that you need to repeatedly type. The built-in ones in the latest version of Office are awkward to use by comparison with some of the freeware and shareware ones that have been around for a lot longer. Freeware ones generally only handle text, while commercial and shareware tend to handle the other formats (graphics, RTF). |
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Software |
Collection Maintenance and Acquisition |
You often get asked for recommendations on good books or multimedia for people to buy or borrow on the subject you've just been teaching. I just ran across Readerware today (Feb 17, 2003) that automates the process of keeping track of this information. I've summarized it here, and the link is to the right. |
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Software |
Scheduler |
This product will blow you away. All you need is access to a server running Microsoft's IIS, and $35.00. It makes registering patrons and keeping records on classes an absolute breeze: patrons can even do it for themselves. I've gone to great lengths to describe this amazing program here, but it's just as easy to try a demo. |
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Freeware |
Timer |
Ever been late for a class because you got involved in web-searching? I have. So here's the perfect solution: a countdown timer. |
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Concept |
Mindmapping |
Taking notes. Providing links for a class to avoid spelling mistakes in URLs. Clarifying relationships between concepts. Showing an overview of a topic. Keeping interest alive. And giving people a new tool to enrich their lives. |
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Template |
Tentcards |
Do you know how difficult it is to find tentcard templates on the web? I produce mine using mailmerge in Word XP from a simple comma-delimited file, using three field names as headers: Last, First, Session. The Word template is on the right, if you want it. |
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Hardware |
Wireless mouse |
Although you can wave the Gyromouse in the air and the pointer on the screen will follow, I've found that it works best when you teach from the back of the room with the mouse on a desk. If your lab is set up like a traditional classroom, remove yourself from the position of authority and you'll be able to see the student screens. Take the mouse with you and work from any desktop. |
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Hardware |
Wireless keyboard |
Ahhh.. the freedom. Take the keyboard (pointer is built in) and sit down beside your student. Work through the problems together in a friendly, collegial manner. Make sure the range of the Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter is long enough for your classroom. Share the results with everyone as they follow the process on screen. Or let the student demonstrate directly. |
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Hardware |
Flash Drive |
Indispensable. Cheap for what it offers. Transfers files and provides backup. I carry mine on a lanyard around my neck. But the standards have changed, and the speed is now higher, so watch what you buy. |
Updated 6/1/2003