1. Neil Griffin Spartanburg Community College MERLOT Conference 2008 Minneapolis, Minnesota

2. Why use free software? Many useful tools available Stretch your budget Low risk Eliminate the hassle of the purchasing process Ability 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

3. Types of free software Public 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.

4. Authoring Learning Objects

5. EXE Purpose: Create e-learning packages for public websites or for use in course management systems supporting IMS and SCORM License: Open source Developer: New Zealand Tertiary Education Commission Website: http://www.exelearning.orghttp://www.exelearning.org Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux (Sample)Sample

6. Timeline Creator Purpose: Create Flash-based historical timelines with multimedia License: Freeware Developer: Johns Hopkins University Website: http://timeline.cer.jhu.eduhttp://timeline.cer.jhu.edu Platforms: Windows, Mac (Sample)Sample

7. Eclipse Crossword creator Purpose: Create Flash or printed crossword puzzles License: Freeware Developer: Green Eclipse Website: http://www.eclipsecrossword.comhttp://www.eclipsecrossword.com Platforms: Windows (Sample)Sample

8. MatchUp, Multi-Choice Quiz, and Fling the Teacher Purpose: Create Flash-based quiz and matching games License: Freeware (publisher sells other game templates) Developer: Content Generator Website: http://www.contentgenerator.nethttp://www.contentgenerator.net Platforms: Windows (MatchUp) (Multi-Choice) (Fling the Teacher)MatchUpMulti-ChoiceFling the Teacher

9. Wink Purpose: Create Flash-based computer software demonstrations and tutorials that include audio, text captions, and limited branching License: Freeware Developer: Satish Kumar Website: http://www.debugmode.comhttp://www.debugmode.com Platforms: Windows, Linux (Sample)Sample

10. Helpful Tools

11. CamStudio Purpose: Record video and audio from computer and save in AVI or Flash format License: Open source Developer: RenderSoft, Nick Smith Website: http://www.camstudio.orghttp://www.camstudio.org Platforms: Windows

12. Audacity Purpose: Record, edit, and convert audio in many formats License: Open Source Developers: Dominic Mazzoni and Roger Dannenberg Website: http://audacity.sourceforge.nethttp://audacity.sourceforge.net Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

13. Media Coder Purpose: Convert multimedia from one file format to another License: Open source Developer: Website: Platforms: Windows

14. PDFCreator Purpose: Create PDF documents from any program that can print, and add password protection or disable copying or printing License: Open source Developer: PDF Forge Website: http://www.pdfforge.orghttp://www.pdfforge.org Platforms: Windows (not Vista)

15. CutePDF Purpose: Create PDF documents from any program that can print License: Freeware (lite version of commercial product) Developer: Acro Software Website: http://www.cutepdf.comhttp://www.cutepdf.com Platforms: Windows

16. OpenOffice Purpose: Office suite with word processor, spreadsheet, database, drawing, and presentations. Can save to HTML and presentations to Flash format License: Open source Developer: Sun Website: http://www.openoffice.orghttp://www.openoffice.org Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

17. Contact Information Neil Griffin Director, SCCOnline Spartanburg Community College P.O. Box 8346 Spartanburg, SC 29305 Phone: (864) 592-4897 E-mail: GriffinN@sccsc.edu Presentation website: http://online.sccsc.edu/griffin