FreeSoftware

Page history last edited by Emily Mann 15 years, 11 months ago

R O I . . . Return On Investment

Article from Leading and Learning with Technology, ISTE's flagship publication.

Does "free" mean "without cost." If it is free is it also copyright free? Can one modify it? Sell it? What does FREE mean?

The term "open-source" has essentially replaced the term "free." How does the Open Source definition differ from Free?

Software may be licensed. Why? What good is a license if the author just wants others to use his creation?

How many different Open Source licenses are there? Why?

Open Source licensing started with Creative Commons. How do the licenses at Creative Commons differ from Open Source and Free?

Other resources having to do with free software can be found on Allen Swanson's Delicious page or by Googling "free software open source."

Title	Description	Level
Photostory 3	Digital storytelling: slide shows with narration and music	K-12
TuxPaint	Painting program with stamps	K-5
Celestia	Space exploration program	4-12
Stellarium	Planetarium simulation	4-12
Google Earth	World and Sky viewing program. Awesome	K-12
NASA Worldwind	Like Google Earth, but tied to specific scientific data sets and Open Source.	4-12
Anim8or	Animation software. Sample student projects.	4-12
CamStudio	Windows screen recording software	Teachers
Open Office	Microsoft Office look-a-like. MS Office compatible file formats.	all
Neo Office	Macintosh specific version of Open Office with many Mac only capabilities	all
GIMP	Graphic creation and editing software	4-12
Picasa	Enables you and your students to find, edit and share all the pictures on your PCs	4-12, Teachers
Audacity	Sound recording and editing	all
iTunes	Podcasting, music, pictures, and movie storage program for iPods.	all
Ubuntu	Linux OS with Elementary applications on a bootable CD. Mac and PC compatible	all
Google SketchUp	Download Google SketchUp 7 and create, modify and share 3D models with the world for free.	all
Scratch	A programming language for everyone. Create interactive stories, games, music and art - and share it online.	all
Skype	Make free calls over the internet to other people on Skype for as long as you like, to wherever you like.

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