Downloads+&+Logins

Welcome to the Downloads, Installs, and Logins Page!
In order to function smoothly in this course, it is highly recommended that you
 * download and install the programs from Section 1 (Downloads and Installations), and
 * obtain logins to the websites in Section 2 (Logins) below.

Sections 4 & 5 are optional at this point.

If you know that you will be working in the Education Center for the majority of the work in this course, you can probably get by without the Downloads and Installations. However, if you wish to work at home, these programs (or comparable ones of your choice) will be necessary.

1. Downloads & Installations

 * **Program** || **Comments** ||
 * [|Mozilla Firefox 3.0] || This is the browser recommended by the [|Distance and Distributed Education Department] for working in //WebCT//. ||
 * Wimba Pronto || This is the primary live chat tool we'll use. ||
 * [|del.icio.us] extension || //Del.icio.us// is an add-on to your web browser. We will use it to do //social bookmarking//.

Depending on the browser you are using, you want to select the corresponding link: if you're in //Firefox//, click the //Firefox// button. If you're in //Internet Explorer//, click the //Internet Explorer// button. Or, you can try the "Bookmarklet buttons..." for any browser. ||
 * [|Audacity 1.2]

for Windows (Mac users, please talk to me.)

//Install Video// (coming soon!) || We will use the //Audacity// program to record and edit podcasts. Tutorials will be provided for this program. It works on PCs and Macs, although there is a different install for Macs. ||
 * [|LAME Encoder]

//Install Video (coming soon!)// || After you have installed //Audacity//, you will want to place the LAME Encoder into your Audacity folder. || VMWare View Client http://www.westga.edu/~khuett/vmware_viewclient.zip
 * [|iTunes] || We will use iTunes to locate and download podcasts as well as to rip music from CDs into the MP3 format. ||
 * [|CutePDF] || We will sometimes need to make PDF documents so that they are universally accessible. ||

2. Logins

 * **Login** || **Comments** ||
 * [|Google] || Having a Google login allows you to use a variety of web-based programs, including the following which we'll use in this class: //Blogger//, //Reader//, and //Feedburner//. ||
 * Wikispaces || We will be using wikispaces for a number of assignments. Not only will you use the instructor-made wiki to read about assignments, but you will also interact in a group wiki or two and maintain your very own wiki. A wiki, by the way, is an easy-to-use website that one or more people can edit quickly. ||
 * [|Del.icio.us] || You will want to register for a //delicious// account. This is not the same thing as installing the buttons on your browser (as instructed in the Downloads section above). You will use the installed browser buttons to make online bookmarks to your login/account. ||

3. Cool Logins (optional)

 * **Program** || **Comments** ||
 * [|Mediafire] || This program is great for sending large files across the internet. Let's say you make a video and you want to send it to your best friend in San Francisco. Your email won't let you b/c it's too big. What do you do? Well, you can upload to Mediafire, where they'll host your file free of charge. Once uploaded, Mediafire designates a URL for that file. You grab the URL and tell your friend in San Fran to go to it. He'll be directed to download. It's so cool.

Sometimes students use this when //WebCT// times out constantly while uploading digital movies. ||
 * [|Meebo] || This is a chat aggregator, meaning it can funnel all your chat programs into one interface! (AIM, Messenger, Google, and Yahoo) ||
 * [|Voicethread] || A neat, interactive online presentation program. Interact with an [|example]. ||

4. Concept Mapping Software
We will also be doing concept-mapping in this class. My favorite concept-mapping program is //IMHC CMap Tools// (partly because it's free!). A lot of you will choose to use //Inspiration// or //Kidspiration// for this class. Be forewarned that it costs around 30 dollars. You can download it for a 30-day trial on each computer that you own. (If you've downloaded them before, it won't work.)

I will provide the concept-mapping program links below, but I do not recommend that you install //Inspiration// or //Kidspiration// until you are ready to make your concept map.
 * **Program** || **Features** ||
 * [|IMHC CMapTools] || adult audience; publish on internet with unique URL; work on maps collaboratively across globe; plain look; open source ||
 * [|FreeMind] || adult audience; allows for complex mapping of textual ideas; open source ||
 * [|Inspiration] || kid-friendly (4th grade+); cute graphics; lots of features; easy to use; for 30-day trial; available in College of Education Computer Labs ||
 * [|Kidspiration] || younger-kid friendly (PreK-4th grade); cute graphics; lots of features;easy to use; internet protection ||
 * [|VUE] || free, open-source program out of Tufts University. Looks cool! Watch [|demo video]. ||