Software: Trials and Shareware

Technology for Students and Educators 5000

Creamer-Nichols AcademyBy Megan Ruth Finley

Two Types of Free Software:

1) Freeware/Shareware: Created as an exercise by a developer to show off their skills. Some are completely free, others will remind you to contribute a donation or give you the option of purchasing other extended features.

2) Trial versions: Software intended to allow you to try before you buy. Requires you to create a personal account prior to downloading. Usually good for one month after downloading. Will remind you to purchase each time you use it.

Things to know about downloading:Free software can harbor malware which can hurt your machine:

Download directly from the software maker’s site such as Adobe.com

Download from an established software site such as CNET.com

Never provide your credit card information until you are going to buy

Make sure your virus protection software is updated first

Read the reviews on the web or software site

If possible get an external hard drive for free programs to avoid over cluttering your

computer and avoid infecting your machine with a virus or spyware

Software for Educators:

Grade keepers and seating chart makers often allow you to send progress reports as well.

Practice Tests• 4Tests.com offers

practice tests in all levels of certification including GED, SAT, and advanced networking such as NT

Tests and Quizzes

Make tests and quizzes online without HTML, including multiple choice and tests incorporating graphics, video, or pictures.

Experiences

Educational materials and virtual museum visits from sites such as FREE: Federal Resources for Educational Excellence

Software for Students:

KompoZer: A WYSIWYG software web editor which allows you to create webpages without coding including pages that incorporate CSS (cascading style sheets- a compact form of HTML)

Typing Skills

TuxTyping is online game teaching typing skills helping a penguin to eat fish by typing quickly

Photos and Graphics

Hugin takes multiple photos and creates a panorama of them

Video and Multimedia

Lightworks is a professional quality video editing software program used on award winning films

Animation and Sims

Pencil is an animation program which allows you to create cartoons with freehand drawings or with computer graphics

Game Development

Scratch allows game development by 6th graders and above; it was developed by MIT Media Labs

Tips to Remember:• Download from a trusted source – go to the creator’s site or a

mirror site• Look for reviews and recommendations• Ask yourself why it is offered for free• Does it come with tech support?• Don’t install it on a vital computer• Backup your machine first• Create a restore point• Get rid of the ones you aren’t interested in keeping• Get the latest version• Install fixes and updates for your new softwarehttp://www.cmitsolutions.com/corporate/blog/free-really-free-9-tips-safely-downloading-

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