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The items on this CD are designed to make your techie life a little easier. There is almost nothing here that is not available for download elsewhere. During this course, we will be installing software from the CD in order to save time. However, I am also supplying the URL where the software is available so that you will know where to go at a later date if you wish to update the version as new releases come out.
To view the contents of the CD, insert the CD in the CD-ROM drive of your computer. Double click on the "My Computer" icon, and then double click on the CD-ROM drive icon (the letter designation for this drive will vary from computer to computer). To view the contents of a folder, double click on the folder. If you see a + sign in front of a folder, this symbol indicates that there are additional folders nested inside. Click on the + sign to see the nested folders. For example, you will notice a folder called "Browsers" has a + sign in front of it. If you click on the + sign, the "Browser" folder will expand to reveal two additional folders: Netscape 4.5 and Internet Explorer 5.0.
Almost everything on this CD is a software package. The installation file for each program is what you will find. To install the software, double-click on the installation file and then follow the on-screen instructions. In most cases, you will want to do a "typical" (rather than "custom") install, and accept all defaults. This is the time to be agreeable!!
Please pay attention to what type of software you are installing. Some of it is FREEWARE, meaning that you may install it on your computer without paying any sort of fee. Some of the software is SHAREWARE, meaning that you are free to install it and try it out, but if you keep it beyond a certain time (usually 30 days), you must register it and pay for it. Some shareware will self-destruct after 30 days, some will not. Let your conscience be your guide. Some software on this CD is for EVALUATION purposes. In this case, certain features may be disabled. Once you register the software, all features become available. There is no commercial software on this CD.
I have also included a few files that we will be using during the course. In particular, you will find some map images in the MAPS folder. We will be using these maps to learn how to make image maps. And, you will find some MSWord text documents that we will be using for electronic annotations.
Finally, there is a README folder that contains this document.
So, here goes the list of goodies:
 Audio
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The programs in this folder are designed to accomplish audio related
tasks.
Cool Edit is a shareware program for basic sound editing. Cost is about $50.00 to register for the full version. WinAmp is an MP3 player that will allow you to listen to digitized sound. With near-CD quality, WinAmp is transforming streamed sound on the Internet. This is a free player. WARNING: Most MP3 files on the web are illegal and in violation of copyright!! |
Browsers
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Browsers are software packages that enable us to see what
is on the Internet. The two most popular browsers are:
Internet Explorer (Microsoft) (free) Netscape (free) |
| Crossword |
This used to be a commercial software package. Unfortunately, it is no longer available from the publisher. It will allow you to make printable crossword puzzles for your classes. We will also look at a web-based alternative, Puzzlemaker. |
Grading
Programs
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I have included several programs for recording student grades,
calculating averages, tracking attendance, etc. These can make your
teacher life much easier!! They vary in complexity; try several before
deciding which one to use. There are many other commercially available
packages.
The version of 1st Class that I have included here is an evaluation copy. You may only list 10 students in a class for demo purposes. To unlock full functionality, you need to purchase the package ($49.00 for single user license). Classroom Windows is a freeware grading program designed for Windows 95 (also runs on 98). Simple, but averaging is cumbersome. Educator Express is highly rated
(along with Grade Quick). This version is freeware, there
is also a more powerful version available for purchase.
Grade Quick is another
highly rated package. This is a 30-day free trial version.
Grade Quick is also available as a downloadable
file at the Pine Crest web site!
Gradekeeper is a shareware package. This one tends to be rather bland, but does the job. |
| Hot
Potatoes |
Hot Potatoes is one of the hottest software packages available for language teachers right now. The good news is that it is freeware! It contains six little programs that will allow you to make javaScript exercises for your students with no knowledge of JavaScript! It will even write a framed web page containing your exercise automatically. |
Image
Editing
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Image editing software will allow you to do some basic manipulations
(such as adding text, resizing an image, converting image formats, etc.)
with images. I have included three packages on the CD:
Map Edit is a nifty little shareware program that will allow you to make image maps without cursing. After 30 days, you need to register the program ($25.00). PaintShop Pro is a shareware package with many of the same features as its much more expensive commercial counterpart, Adobe Photoshop. Version 4.1 is an evaluation copy that does not self-destruct in 30 days. Version 5.0 will disable itself in 60 days. Let your conscience be your guide. |
| Maps |
These maps are all .gif images that we will use to make an image map. You will find maps of France, Germany, Spain, Mexico, South American, Latin America, Italy and the US. |
| Net
Meeting |
Net Meeting is freeware by Microsoft. It allows teachers to do very inexpensive teleconferencing (using QuickCams). You can also share documents, collaborate on documents (two people can work on the same document at the same time), chat, or use a whiteboard feature. |
Plugins
and Helpers
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Plugins and helpers can extend and enhance the usefulness
of your internet browser (Netscape, in this case). All are available
for free download on the Internet.
Acrobat Reader 4.0 will allow you to read .pdf (Portable Document Format) files on the web. Lotus Screen Cam player will allow you to view Lotus Screen Cam movies, such as the tutorial on File Management. NPWrap is a plugin for viewing panoramas. Quicktime is one of the most versatile plugins around. You can view quicktime movies with it. Real Player G2 with Jukebox (beta) is a sound and video player that will allow you to view files in the "Real" format (Real Audio, Real Video). Extremely useful for news on the web. Shockwave is a plugin that will allow you to view Macromedia programs (from Authorware, Director, etc.). The Surround Video plugin will allow you to view panoramas on the web. Video Live is a plugin similar to RealPlayer; it will allow you to view streamed media on the web. WebWasher is a wonderful browser add-on that will eliminate those annoying advertisement popup windows on web pages. It is also available at the Pine Crest download site. |
| Readme |
The readme folder contains the html document that you are reading now!!
The filename is readme.htm.
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Utilities
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The two utilities listed below are essential for working with the web.
WinFTP is a software package that will allow you to transfer files from one computer to another. FTP = file transfer protocol Winzip is a utility that will "unzip" compressed files. Zipped
files download faster from the web since they are compressed; before you
can install the software in a zipped file, you must expand the file to
its full size. The procedure is:
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