Sale on Microsoft Office at Academic Superstore

2008-07-23T20:27:18Z

Everyone is eligible for Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 -- no proof of academic affiliation required! Read More......(read more)

Classroom Toolkit Newsletter Announces Editorial Changes

2008-07-11T14:55:26Z

Classroom Toolkit finished telling the story of the failed Technology Integration Movement, and we are moving on. Read More......(read more)

Under-the-Radar Teaching Skills

2008-06-30T17:00:00Z

Read More......(read more)

Perfecting Personal Talents

2008-06-30T08:00:00Z

Read More......(read more)

Wow! 10 MB Holiday Content Resource Package for Teachers

2007-12-02T15:16:58Z

h Read More......(read more)

Free Camtasia Studio: Create your Own Desktop Videos

2007-11-26T23:23:00Z

Note: This is a cross posting because the offer from TechSmith™ for no-cost Camtasia™ Studio is so good.) Desktop video is one area where existing Open Source software doesn't measure up to the commercial version. And, the "king" of commercial video creation software is Camtasia™ studio. Sidebar Camtasia™ Studio is also much better than Microsoft™'s free Movie Maker software that is a free download for Windows™ Xp. Link to the Microsoft™ Movie Maker Download Page Now, teachers can receive a fully functional (previous version, Version 3.1.3) of Camtasia™ Studio for free! There is no telling how long Techsmith™, the makers of Camtasia™ Studio, will keep this offer online, so act fast. Sidebar Note: Classroom Toolkit is taking the unusual step of publishing this article early so that our readers can take advantage of this TechSmith™ offer. Our online strategy is to publish articles that are organized in a magazine-type collection once a month. However, this offer is too good for teachers to wait. TechSmith™ may pull this offer before the end of the month. We will also publish an article related to this free Camtasia™ offer in our Open Source for Education , section of the Classroom Toolkit 11-30-07 newsletter. This article explores the reason that your school district's IT Department can't take advantage of this free Camtasia™ offer…and the reason that free Open Source software "seldom flies" in a school district network environment, either. Previous Camtasia™ Version: No Problem Even though this free version is an older version of the software, it is still superior to any available Open Source desktop video product. Of course, Techsmith™ would like you to upgrade to the current version, Camtasia™ 5.0. And, Techsmith™ is offering an upgrade to this trial version for half-price, $149.00 USD. Action Steps Here are the steps that you need to take to grab this offer… 1. Download Camtasia™ Trial Version Download the 30-day trial to Camtasia v. 3.1.3 2. Install the Trial software on the computer of your choice 3. Request the Registration that will allow the software to "run forever," i.e., turn the trial version into a full version Obtain a Registration Key (Note: You have to provide an E-mail address.) 4. Visit TechSmith™'s Educational Resources Page TechSmith™'s Educational Video Resources 5. Create your instructional videos Fantastic Offer: The software license key that TechSmith™ sends you turns the evaluation copy that you download for free into a fully licensed version. At the same time, TechSmith™ offers you a chance to upgrade the license for a the newest version at 50% off the new version (Camtasia™ Suite 5.0. Upgrade Link: $149.00 USD (Note: This upgrade price beats the "Education Version pricing," and provides the full commercial license to this product. Education Price: $179.00 USD.) System Requirements It is applications such as Camtasia™ Studio that keep Apple™ and Linux from making headway in their competition with the Windows™ operating system. Of course, Apple™ provides its own free Audio and Video software, but Apple™ computers cost more. Sidebar Contrary to what Apple™ and Linux supporters tell themselves, and would like to believe; i.e., that the education market drives the computer software industry; business and home users are really the engines of computer operating system marketing. Apple™ needs to provide better business applications at a lower price point, and Linux needs to be easier to use and needs to run Windows™ applications in a seamless way. Note: Apple™ computers run an application called Parallels™ , that does an outstanding job of running Windows™ applications on the Mac. Of course, Apple™ computers are superior for desktop video and movie production. However, one application for Camtasia™ videos is to capture Windows™ desktop images to demonstrate how technology can be integrated into your curriculum. If your school district provides Apple™ computers for teacher and student use, then you don't need Camtasia™ Studio. Microsoft Windows™ XP or Windows™ Vista Microsoft™ DirectX 9 or later version 1.0 GHz processor minimum ~ Recommended: 2.5 GHz (for PowerPoint™ and camera recordings.) 500 MB RAM minimum ~ Recommended: 1.0 GB 60 MB of hard-disk space for program installation Optional: Camtasia Studio Add-in for Power Point™ requires PowerPoint™ 2000, 2002, 2003, or 2007 Optional: Production to the Apple iPod format requires Apple QuickTime™ 7.1 or later Optional: Windows-compatible sound card, microphone and speakers (recommended) Optional: Camera video recording requires a USB Camera. Digital video (DV) cameras are not supported. USB Web camera Benefits of Camtasia™ (Either Version) Simplifies video for distance learning Improves online content creation. You can post these videos on a Website or burn them to CD/ DVDs Enhances classroom presentations. You can create video handouts and take home multimedia lessons Strengthens teacher training. Workshop and Training program Follow-up procedures can be posted for online viewing or downloading Great for technology integration Super for Computer Lab demonstrations and student self-help FAQs Wonderful for student learning centers Features of the Latest Version Unless your Classroom is "High Tech" (or you are a Curriculum Specialist, Trainer or Webmaster); you won't need these latest features. And, although there is a learning curve, it is not as steep as with many other high-end software products. (TechSmith™ also provides Camtasia™ video tutorials to get you "up and running" quickly. Sidebar Link to the TechSmith™ Learning Center Camtasia™ Studio publishes videos and MP3 files for portable media players - even the iPod. It enables you to share videos with anyone, even with the use of Flash" You achieve this miracle by being able to record anything on your computer monitor screen, including narrated PowerPoint™ slides and web cam video. Then, you can even edit multiple audio tracks, reduce background noise and equalize volume on these tracks. The new version has a the ability to "AutoZoom" to investigate sections of the screen in greater detail…great for demonstrations. There is also the ability to create interactive videos that can contain surveys and quizzes. The interactive videos can also contain "hot spots" that launch programs and Websites. Sign up for the Classroom Toolkit Newsletter

Quick Action Required

2007-09-30T18:00:00Z

Read More......(read more)

Teacher Survival Strategies

2007-09-30T10:00:00Z

Read More......(read more)

Professional Self-Development

2007-09-30T09:00:00Z

Read More......(read more)

Why 1/5 Americans can't Find the US on a Map: Miss South Carolina Reveals All

2007-09-25T14:14:00Z

Practice Tests need to include practice with oral answers, as well as filling in paper and pencil bubble sheets. And, math, geography and current events should be a part of every Practice Test session. Other Practice Test should include practical skills, Read More......(read more)

Join BlogRush and Snag Free Traffic for your Blog

2007-09-24T20:47:00Z

Teacher Blogs provide wonderful resources, and the quality of sharing that we find on teacher blogs is spectacular. The problem is that nobody but our close colleagues can find our Blog in the sea of text that floods the Internet. This is where a free service such as BlogRush TM comes in. With BlogRush, you can receive free traffic to your Blog. How good is that? Of course, after you join BlogRush TM , the hard part begins. And, what is the hard part? Writing quality content that other helps other teachers, that's what. Link the BlogRush TM Site...Sign up for free.

Teacher Lingo -- Exceptional Free Resource for "Teaching to the Test"

2007-09-24T20:38:00Z

Teaching to the Test is a modern teacher survival skill. Although teachers and principals wish to avoid detection, teaching to the test is an open, dirty secret. Everyone inside education knows the pervasive nature of the practice, and moves to veil the practice are thin and transparent. Resources are usually advertised indirectly, but here is a Blog that openly tutors on the benefits and strategies of teaching to the test. Teaching to the Test Blog

Practice Test Joins BlogRush for Greater Blog Exposure

2007-09-19T21:37:00Z

The Practice Test Blog has joined the Blog Rush™ free service. Here is the link if you want to join, too. Join Blog Rush now… BlogRusn™ is a cooperative Blog referral service. And, BlogRush™ is completely free, i.e., without cost. See for yourself… Join Read More......(read more)

Classroom Toolkit Joins BlogRush

2007-09-18T20:37:27Z

Classroom Toolkit joins BlogRush Read More......(read more)

Site Progress

2007-09-18T10:00:00Z

Read More......(read more)