Tech+Tools+for+Teachers

Math:
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 * Google SketchUp - Google SketchUp is software that you can use to create 3D models of anything you like. Google SketchUp is perfect for providing students with simulated real-world experiences in which they must design/create items/objects using measurement, two-dimensional shapes, and three-dimensional shapes.
 * Timez Attack (Base Version) - Students learn their multiplication facts through an engaging educational "video games."

Science:
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 * Celestia - The free space simulation that lets you explore our universe in three dimensions. Unlike most planetarium software, Celestia doesn't confine you to the surface of the Earth. You can travel throughout the solar system, to any of over 100,000 stars, or even beyond the galaxy. All movement in Celestia is seamless; the exponential zoom feature lets you explore space across a huge range of scales, from galaxy clusters down to spacecraft only a few meters across. A 'point-and-goto' interface makes it simple to navigate through the universe to the object you want to visit. Celestia is expandable. Celestia comes with a large catalog of stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and spacecraft. If that's not enough, you can download dozens of easy to install add-ons with more objects.
 * Google Earth - Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean. You can explore rich geographical and astronomical content, save your toured places, and share with others.
 * Microsoft Research WorldWide Telescope - The WorldWide Telescope (WWT) is a Web 2.0 visualization software environment that enables your computer to function as a virtual telescope—bringing together imagery from the world’s best ground- and space-based telescopes for the exploration of the universe. WWT blends terabytes of images, information, and stories from multiple sources into a seamless, immersive, rich media experience delivered over the Internet. Students of all ages will feel empowered to explore and understand the cosmos using WWT’s simple and powerful user interface.
 * Periodic Table Classic 3.8.1 - The application contains all the elements of the Periodic Table along with images of the elements in their natural state, as well as lots of other information and interactive displays.
 * Stellarium - Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. It is being used in planetarium projectors. Just set your coordinates and go.
 * The Virtual Microscope - The Virtual Microscope is a NASA-funded project that provides simulated scientific instrumentation for students and researchers worldwide as part of NASA's Virtual Laboratory initiative.

Productivity:
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 * OpenOffice.org - Create documents, spreadsheets, databases, and presentations. This suite offers the same functionality as Microsoft Office and can read and write files in Office format.
 * Scribus - Printer quality publishing application. Create signs, brochures, and newsletters.
 * AbiWord - AbiWord is a free ** word processing program ** similar to Microsoft Word. It is suitable for a wide variety of word processing tasks.
 * FreeMind - Mind mapping software. Use this software to do brainstorming or lay out an idea. Similar to Inspiration.
 * PDFCreator - Turn almost anything into a pdf file. This program can also secure documents.
 * Sunbird - Mozilla Sunbird is a full-featured and easy to use calendar application.
 * **7-Zip** - 7-Zip is an open source file archiver designed originally for Microsoft Windows.

Internet Tools:
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 * KompoZer - KompoZer is designed to be extremely easy to use, making it ideal for non-technical computer users who want to create an attractive, professional-looking web site without needing to know HTML or web coding.
 * Firefox Browser - Th//e Firefox// Web Browser is the faster, more secure, and fully customizable way to surf the web.
 * Google Chrome//- Google Chrome// is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier.
 * Thunderbird - Thunderbird is a mail and news reader with much of the same functionality that Microsoft Outlook has.

Multimedia
> > > > Sharing your best photos with friends and family is as easy as pressing a button!
 * Audacity - The premier audio editing tool. This program allows you to record, modify and mix audio for a variety of projects. It is used to build podcasts and create full length cds.
 * GIMP or GIMPShop - Comparable to Adobe Photoshop in features, GIMP is an image editing program. For those of you who already use Photoshop, GIMPShop is GIMP redone to look and work more like Photoshop.
 * Paint.NET - Paint.NET is free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.
 * Picasa - Picasa is free photo editing software from Google that makes your pictures look great.

** File Conversion **
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 * Have a file that is too big? Try zipping. []
 * Want a file converted to a PDF document? []
 * Can't view Microsoft 2007+ documents? Download the Microsoft Compatability Pack at []
 * Want to share a SmartBoard NoteBook lesson with someone who doesn't have the Notebook Software? Try Smart Notebook Express:[]

** Creation **

 * Need QUICK certificates, brochures, calendars, etc.? Visit Microsoft Office Online for templates:[]

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 * Manipulate pictures, create slideshows - quick and easy! -[] - [] []
 * Create New file extensions for files not compatible with programs:[|Media Converter] or [|Any Video Converter]

**Other Cool Tools**

 * Create a WORDLE, or word clouds from text you provide - []


 * REDUCE the size of links - []


 * Notes ON THE GO...no flashdrive or paper, just a computer with an internet connection - []


 * Have you found cool sites, but don't want to "lose" them? SOCIAL BOOKMARK- []

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 * Paste notes/information __**to parents**__ online - []
 *  __**FREE** reading for Elementary students__ - []

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 * Want to create amazing **videos** or virtual **scrapbooks**? Try [|www.animoto.com] or [|www.smilebox.com]
 *  Create free posters - **__FREE__** : []
 *  Searching for a list of Web 2.0 tools? http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/


 *  District approved teacher resource - []


 * ===Need literature on the go?[]===