Free tools for the innovative practitioner from Microsoft.
The following is a collection of free software from Microsoft to enhance the learning experience through technology. In 2010 I was luckily enough to be invited to Microsoft's headquarters in Reading as one of their Innovative Teachers. During the two days the objective was to create innovative methods of effectively incorporating Microsoft technology into the learning environment to engage and motivate students while enabling them to progress at an increased rate. During this time I was introduced to an extensive list of software they have developed which has many applications within the learning and teaching setting, some of which are included below.
1. Bing Maps
Bing Maps is so much more than just maps and directions. Bing Maps delivers a truly immersive experience that connects people to the world and a growing number of useful and valuable applications. Whether you want to find and view photosynths, see Twitter feeds, explore environmental projects or just explore the world; Bing Maps is a great resource for educators and students to enrich their learning experience.
1. Bing Maps
Bing Maps is so much more than just maps and directions. Bing Maps delivers a truly immersive experience that connects people to the world and a growing number of useful and valuable applications. Whether you want to find and view photosynths, see Twitter feeds, explore environmental projects or just explore the world; Bing Maps is a great resource for educators and students to enrich their learning experience.
2. Photosynth
The Photosynth app is a tool that takes your photos, mashes them together and recreates a 3-D scene out of them that anyone can view and move around. The app is available for both iOS and Android.
The Photosynth app is a tool that takes your photos, mashes them together and recreates a 3-D scene out of them that anyone can view and move around. The app is available for both iOS and Android.
3. Worldwide Telescope is a free download that enables you to access a huge collection of stunning images of the universe from the Hubble Space Telescope and many other space and earth observatories . These can be used to engage students, and to support teaching and learning in Maths and Science. It is a great tool to encourage students in research and project based learning around the planets, the solar system and the stars and to give them an appreciation of the scale, complexity and beauty of the universe.
Worldwide Telescope can be downloaded from http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/Home.aspx
Worldwide Telescope can be downloaded from http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/Home.aspx
4. DeepZoom
DeepZoom allows students to create image compositions that can be viewed at different resolutions. Photos can be embedded within one another making it an ideal resource to develop thinking skills and digital storytelling.
A great example of the use of DeepZoom technology can be found at the Hard Rock Café http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/. (You will need the Silverlight plug in to view this).To make your own Deep Zoom compositions, downlaod a free copy of DeepZoom Composer. You can find a series of tutorials about how to use DeepZoom Composer on the UK Teachers Blog.
DeepZoom allows students to create image compositions that can be viewed at different resolutions. Photos can be embedded within one another making it an ideal resource to develop thinking skills and digital storytelling.
A great example of the use of DeepZoom technology can be found at the Hard Rock Café http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/. (You will need the Silverlight plug in to view this).To make your own Deep Zoom compositions, downlaod a free copy of DeepZoom Composer. You can find a series of tutorials about how to use DeepZoom Composer on the UK Teachers Blog.
5. Autocollage
Create Photo montages from multiple images, quickly and easily . Download AutoCollage for free from the UK Partners in Learning Network.
Create Photo montages from multiple images, quickly and easily . Download AutoCollage for free from the UK Partners in Learning Network.
| 6. Mouse Mischief Want to keep your students' attention? Try a little Mischief. Mouse Mischief is a tool that Microsoft makes available free of charge, and that allows teachers to work with Microsoft Office PowerPoint to make interactive presentations. Mouse Mischief integrates with Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 and Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007, enabling teachers to insert questions, polls and drawing activity slides into their lessons. Students can actively participate in these lessons by using their own mice to click, circle, cross out or draw answers on the screen. | |
I've used Mouse Mischief extensively with my classes across Key Stage 3 to 5 and with a small amount of training of the students it provides an on going insight into their understanding through a captivating medium. I purchased a set of 30 wireless mice and three 10 port USB hubs from eBay for just over £70, and its been money well spent. My post-16 classes really enjoy using this as a plenary and become ultra competitive.
You can download Mouse Mischief, and see a demo video, on the UK website.
You can download Mouse Mischief, and see a demo video, on the UK website.
7. Windows Movie Maker
The sights, sounds and action of a movie are a great way grab your students' attention and bring subjects to life. But who has time to teach and make movie magic? You do - with Windows Movie Maker. In just minutes, you can turn photos and video clips on any subject into interesting movies with special effects, sounds, and captions. Then share them with your class, on the Web, or DVDs so everyone can enjoy. A great piece of free software for students to produce their own videos on a topic as part of their revision or an extended project.
The sights, sounds and action of a movie are a great way grab your students' attention and bring subjects to life. But who has time to teach and make movie magic? You do - with Windows Movie Maker. In just minutes, you can turn photos and video clips on any subject into interesting movies with special effects, sounds, and captions. Then share them with your class, on the Web, or DVDs so everyone can enjoy. A great piece of free software for students to produce their own videos on a topic as part of their revision or an extended project.
8. Songsmith
Get your students creative juices flowing across the entire curriculum using Songsmith - a quick & easy way of creating songs, raps, rhymes and tunes out of whatever comes into your head. This is particularly useful for revision,I get my classes to compose a rap/song for homework on a specific topic which they then record during the lesson. They are then able to play back their recoding on their mp3 players, which provides a different medium to revise from.
Get your students creative juices flowing across the entire curriculum using Songsmith - a quick & easy way of creating songs, raps, rhymes and tunes out of whatever comes into your head. This is particularly useful for revision,I get my classes to compose a rap/song for homework on a specific topic which they then record during the lesson. They are then able to play back their recoding on their mp3 players, which provides a different medium to revise from.
9. Flashcards
Create on-line personalised revision materials for your students and pupils. These Flashcards can contain images and audio, making them an ideal resource for language and special educational needs teaching. The Flashcards give feedback on how well students and pupils are doing, allowing them to identify the areas they need to improve. See my the user guide.
Create on-line personalised revision materials for your students and pupils. These Flashcards can contain images and audio, making them an ideal resource for language and special educational needs teaching. The Flashcards give feedback on how well students and pupils are doing, allowing them to identify the areas they need to improve. See my the user guide.
10. Windows Live Writer
Live Writer is a programme that allows you to write blog posts offline, and then upload them onto your blog (and it works with all kinds of different blog platforms, like WordPress, Blogger, Community Server, SharePoint, Live Spaces, and lots of others). You can find out a little more about it in “I love Live Writer”. Very useful to enhance literacy skills particularly at Key Stage 3.
Many more free Microsoft downloads can be found at:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ukschools/archive/2011/12/09/microsoft-learning-suite-free-download-now-available.aspx
Live Writer is a programme that allows you to write blog posts offline, and then upload them onto your blog (and it works with all kinds of different blog platforms, like WordPress, Blogger, Community Server, SharePoint, Live Spaces, and lots of others). You can find out a little more about it in “I love Live Writer”. Very useful to enhance literacy skills particularly at Key Stage 3.
Many more free Microsoft downloads can be found at:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ukschools/archive/2011/12/09/microsoft-learning-suite-free-download-now-available.aspx
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