It’s been two weeks since the Microsoft Partners in Learning European Forum in Moscow, it’s only now I have had time to reflect and despite all the positives from that event, there is was one thing that frustrated me. Which was teachers not knowing about our free software. In some cases I saw teachers using paid for, and in my opinion inferior software. Is there anything better than Worldwide Telescope?
So taking my cue from those adverts with the Meerkats, I “stuck my head up” and began to find Teachers to tell where they could begin to find free software from Microsoft. Simples ! Or so I thought, but the nature of any free software, means its location is often spread across various places of the internet and teachers find out about it from sources such as Twitter, blogs and face to face networking.
So this has inspired Jan and I to write a series blog posts revisiting the free stuff Microsoft has and that the Partners in Learning team talk about all the time. Highlighting where to find it and how to make the best use of it in the classroom.
So lets start with two of our favourites, AutoCollage and Songsmith.
Application name – AutoCollage Free download from - http://uk.partnersinlearningnetwork.com/Resources/Pages/ArticleViewer.aspx?listname=ToolsAndPrograms&itemid=44 Requirements – You will need a Live ID and join the UK Partners in Learning Network to download AutoCollage. AutoCollage automatically creates photo montages from up to 54 images. Great to use in the classroom for recording school events and pupil activities. It can be used by students as visual record of their learning and it is a great tool for Digital storytelling activities. Find out how to use AutoCollage here Application name - Songsmith Free download from - http://uk.partnersinlearningnetwork.com/Resources/Pages/ArticleViewer.aspx?listname=ToolsAndPrograms&itemid=45 Requirements – You will need a Live ID and join the UK Partners in Learning Network to download. Songsmith is fantastic software that lets you (or your students, preferably), sing into your computer and it adds a background track and percussion of your choosing to create your own song. Songsmith isn’t just for music lessons. It’s is a great way to inject creative learning into any subject. Whether your looking for a fun way to help your students memorize multiplication tables or need to bring a history lesson to life, Songsmith can help you use music to encourage learning. Find out how to use Songsmith here
Application name – AutoCollage
Free download from - http://uk.partnersinlearningnetwork.com/Resources/Pages/ArticleViewer.aspx?listname=ToolsAndPrograms&itemid=44
Requirements – You will need a Live ID and join the UK Partners in Learning Network to download AutoCollage.
AutoCollage automatically creates photo montages from up to 54 images. Great to use in the classroom for recording school events and pupil activities. It can be used by students as visual record of their learning and it is a great tool for Digital storytelling activities.
Find out how to use AutoCollage here
Application name - Songsmith
Free download from - http://uk.partnersinlearningnetwork.com/Resources/Pages/ArticleViewer.aspx?listname=ToolsAndPrograms&itemid=45
Requirements – You will need a Live ID and join the UK Partners in Learning Network to download.
Songsmith is fantastic software that lets you (or your students, preferably), sing into your computer and it adds a background track and percussion of your choosing to create your own song. Songsmith isn’t just for music lessons. It’s is a great way to inject creative learning into any subject. Whether your looking for a fun way to help your students memorize multiplication tables or need to bring a history lesson to life, Songsmith can help you use music to encourage learning.
Find out how to use Songsmith here
If you download and use these applications, then why not share the links with two of your colleagues, and encourage them to do the same. Help us share these great free resources ……. Simples !