To promote educational freedom and information literacy, students should be encouraged to embrace a new slogan: "LEARN HOW TO COPY THAT FREEWARE FLOPPY!" Besides copying free programs and utilities, it makes sense to download home pages with valuable links or educational content to your hard drive or floppy (provided proper permission is obtained or Fair Use procedures are followed below). This is because peak traffic on the Internet often prevents accessing bookmarked links, and inappropriate material can be filtered from downloaded items before making them available to younger students via off-line browsers.

NOTE: Assume that all works on the Internet are copyrighted even if they do not display the copyright sign (c) or ©. These works should not be copied without permission unless the author/owner states otherwise or unless covered under the Fair Use Guidelines. See The Copyright Website and Sites for Copyright Information for more details. Three major categories of software which are intended to be copied are:

• Shareware programs, despite the trendy misnomer as "free" software, only have a short free trial period for evaluation, and eventually require the user to register and pay fees for the licenses to use them after the evaluation period. Shareware programs are copyrighted and like other commercial programs, they are protected by copyright laws.

  NOTE: In my educational freeware section, I promote TRULY FREE software:

• Freeware programs however, may be copied freely...there are no fees requested by the authors (even though most authors may have copyrighted their works and reserve certain rights so that a user may not modify the software or distribute the software for money without permission). CONTINUE

• Public domain software is not copyrighted, and may also be freely copied, plus there are no restrictions on what the user may or may not do with the software.

The following topics are available at: Free "How-to" Guides.

Beginning Pointers Setup Typical Internet PC Protect against viruses Understand Internet Terms Find information/Internet tools Download information/files Unzip compressed files

Copy large files to other computers Install programs/plug-in's Retrieve files/data Create Home Pages, Presentation, & Resumes Use shortcuts to new Links Find more information/Support

Numerous freeware programs and utilities are available now to accomplish almost any task. Over an estimated 180,000 programs exist which include freeware and shareware programs. While shareware programs involve some expense to register, freeware programs are available at no cost. There are other software programs which are can be used freely by educators and students but which require some cost if used commercially. Some sites below cover freeware exclusively, others cover some freeware.

NOTE: In most cases, software programs/utilities written in one platform (say Microsoft Windows®) will not work on another platform (say Macintosh®) unless emulation or dual-platform switching is incorporated in the same computer. While dual-platform computers have somewhat of an advantage, many authors are writing multiple versions of their software (See AppleCare Site Index and IBM®).

These resources are now available at: Educational Freeware List (List A is arranged by topic - for quick downloading - and List B provides recent finds).

Tons of free Information, guides, books, tutorials, and other resources are being added, deleted, and changed on the Internet at a phenomenal rate. To keep up with what is available in every academic category, here is a list of exceptional (and many award-winning) educational links. Coping guides, homework helpers, and study guide links are also listed to help students succeed. Many links are provided to help parents, teachers, and technologists succeed as well. A special section under TIPS and TOOLS provide a very useful list of tech tools.

These resources are listed in the: Free Educational Technologies INDEX TABLE.

PLANNING:

Technology planning will expedite and expand the means how students and teachers obtain online facilities and training, but creative solutions are at hand to minimize software costs and optimize students' learning opportunities while traditional teaching methodology evolves. School divisions can save significant sums of money by factoring in many of the free technology advantages. Exemplary plans are available from many sources:

• National Center for Technology Planning
• Policies, Plans, Programs (TEAMS Distance Learning)
• Technology in Virginia Schools
• Developing Educational Standards
• Moving America to the Head of The Class - 50 Simple Things you can Do

  GRANTS:

• GrantsWeb WWW Homepage
• GrantsWeb by SRA
• Locating Grants
• Wee Moose's Education Resources (including grants information)

  ONLINE EDUCATION:

  A long list of colleges and universities are now providing college courses and degrees via the convenience of properly-equipped home computers. Many educational institutions will find that online education is a viable option to building new schools. Free software will make this a very practical solution also.

  Because of extensive listings, check major search engines for "online education."
  A good starting point is included here:
  

• Distance Learning Resource Network (DLRN)
• Distance Learning On-Line Resources - Ohio State Univ.
• The Future of Online Learning by Stephen Downes *
• Distance Education Resources (IHETS)
• Distance Education Clearinghouse: Definitions and Resources
• What Makes A Successful Online Student? (About.com)
• Virtual High School
• Virtual Schools: Search by Name
• Learn Online Teaching - links by Bob Bowman

  TECHNOLOGY ISSUES:

  There are many proactive and reactive issues available to help educators understand technology, along with security and privacy issues. To help identify some of these problems and possible solutions, please review:

• Technology Issues - including advancing technology, privacy, security, and Technophobia.
• Educational Issues and Resources (-many relate to technology) (KHHC)
• Educational Psychology Interactive: Education Reform and related papers - Dr. William G. (Bill) Huitt - Valdosta State University

INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED AS A GUIDE ONLY WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. USER MUST VERIFY SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS. *Back To Top*