Neil GriffinSpartanburg Community College

MERLOT Conference 2008Minneapolis, Minnesota

Why use free software?Many useful tools availableStretch your budgetLow riskEliminate the hassle of the purchasing processAbility to distribute the tools to anyone at your

institution who can benefit (support staff, HR, tutoring center, etc.)

Tools can be shared with students allowing them to create learning objects for assignments or create study aids

Types of free softwarePublic domain – The creator gives up all rights and

control to the software.• Open source – The creator retains copyright, but

allows access to source code, allowing for collaborative development. Broad usage, modification, and distribution rights are granted.

• Freeware – The creator gives software away free, but retains all other rights.

EXEPurpose: Create e-learning packages for public websites or for use in course management systems supporting IMS and SCORM

License: Open sourceDeveloper: New Zealand Tertiary Education CommissionWebsite: http://www.exelearning.orgPlatforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

(Sample)

Timeline CreatorPurpose: Create Flash-based historical timelines with multimedia

License: FreewareDeveloper: Johns Hopkins UniversityWebsite: http://timeline.cer.jhu.eduPlatforms: Windows, Mac

(Sample)

Eclipse Crossword creatorPurpose: Create Flash or printed crossword puzzles

License: FreewareDeveloper: Green EclipseWebsite: http://www.eclipsecrossword.comPlatforms: Windows

(Sample)

MatchUp, Multi-Choice Quiz,and Fling the TeacherPurpose: Create Flash-based quiz and matching games

License: Freeware (publisher sells other game templates)Developer: Content GeneratorWebsite: http://www.contentgenerator.netPlatforms: Windows

(MatchUp) (Multi-Choice) (Fling the Teacher)

WinkPurpose: Create Flash-based computer software demonstrations and tutorials that include audio, text captions, and limited branching

License: FreewareDeveloper: Satish KumarWebsite: http://www.debugmode.comPlatforms: Windows, Linux

(Sample)

CamStudioPurpose: Record video and audio from computer and save in AVI or Flash format

License: Open sourceDeveloper: RenderSoft, Nick SmithWebsite: http://www.camstudio.orgPlatforms: Windows

AudacityPurpose: Record, edit, and convert audio in many formats

License: Open SourceDevelopers: Dominic Mazzoni and Roger Dannenberg Website: http://audacity.sourceforge.netPlatforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

Media CoderPurpose: Convert multimedia from one file format to another

License: Open sourceDeveloper:Website:Platforms: Windows

PDFCreatorPurpose: Create PDF documents from any program that can print, and add password protection or disable copying or printing

License: Open sourceDeveloper: PDF ForgeWebsite: http://www.pdfforge.orgPlatforms: Windows (not Vista)

CutePDFPurpose: Create PDF documents from any program that can print

License: Freeware (lite version of commercial product)Developer: Acro SoftwareWebsite: http://www.cutepdf.comPlatforms: Windows

OpenOfficePurpose: Office suite with word processor, spreadsheet, database, drawing, and presentations. Can save to HTML and presentations to Flash format

License: Open sourceDeveloper: SunWebsite: http://www.openoffice.orgPlatforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

Contact InformationNeil Griffin

Director, SCCOnlineSpartanburg Community CollegeP.O. Box 8346Spartanburg, SC 29305

Phone: (864) 592-4897E-mail: GriffinN@sccsc.edu

Presentation website: http://online.sccsc.edu/griffin