Eleven of the Hottest Software Programs for Distance Learning: Don’t Boot Your Computer without Them

 
 
by Steven N. Pyser, J.D.
Distance learning faculty are experiencing the Chinese proverb, “May you live in exciting times.”
Computers are fully integrated into our lives. Technological advances with increased memory capacity and processing speed available on today’s computers allow us to perform tasks not possible at the close of the millennium. Would you like to increase course quality and efficiency with less time and effort? The Windows® software discussed in this article can support your continuous professional improvement whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned online learning veteran.
The New York Times reported on October 31, 2007 “nearly 3.5 million college or graduate students, one of every five, took at least one online course last fall, double the figures of five years earlier…” (Berger, 2007, para. 5). Adjunct faculty are direct beneficiaries of this influx of students taking online courses supported by new computer improvements.
The ability to use competently the newest technologies and current versions of software positively builds your professional image. This may determine if you receive (or continue to receive) regular teaching assignments. Administrators require proficiencies not only to use e-Learning platforms but also to use software creatively to engage students in learning.
Have you chosen to ride the latest wave of technology innovation in a proactive or reactive manner? Are you current with the latest in hi-tech developments? Have you been working harder or smarter? Each of the software products selected for this article supports essential tasks of online facilitation.
1. Diskeeper 2008 Pro Premier
Application: Defragment Computer Hard Drive
Benefit: Files stored on your hard drive become fragmented when you create, delete, or change them. A file originally saved in one place on the hard drive is no longer stored in a contiguous location and now exists in scattered and noncontiguous places. Reliability and performance degrade with fragmented files resulting in longer load times and persistent lags.
Diskeeper defragments your hard drive in real-time. System performance and fragmentation-based problems are corrected. It runs in the background removing the need for maintenance operations. Downloading, accessing files and surfing the Web occur with more ease and efficiency.
Multimedia Tour: http://www.diskeeper.com/diskeeper/tour/index.html
Free Trial: http://www.diskeeper.com/downloads/menu.aspx
2. WhiteSmoke 2008
Application: Writing Improvement
Benefit: This writing tool allows you to write, fix, edit and enrich any text. The software replaces your word processor’s grammar and spell checker. It provides English editing and proofreading tasks within a single intuitive interface. The program offers advanced and context-based grammar, spelling and punctuation checking, as well as text enrichment with synonyms, adverbs and adjectives. Multiple modules are available for different writing needs. It requires Internet connection because the artificial intelligence database is updated daily.
Multimedia Demo: http://www.whitesmoke.com/demo.html
Free Trial: http://www.download.com/3001-2369_4-10756220.html
3. Camtasia Studio 5.0
Application: Record anything viewable on your computer screen; including software applications, web pages, PowerPoint presentations, and much more.
Benefit: Looking for a new way to bring your online class alive and encourage student participation and learning? Use this software to create “screencasts” and multimedia educational materials including short video tutorials, narrated PowerPoint presentations with on-screen animations, study aids and interactive CD-ROM tutorial. It provides all the tools for recording, editing, producing and distributing your materials. Camtasia’s Higher Education Best Practices web page http://www.techsmith.com/community/education/highedcasestudies.asp provides faculty success stories.
Free Trial: http://www.techsmith.com/download/camtasiatrialthx.asp
4. Infoselect 2007
Application: Personal Information Manager (PIM)
Benefit: Forget about using a word processor (spreadsheet, database or structured PIM) to store information. Enter information randomly as either topics or notes and it is instantly available through a search query. Prepare or update courses by capturing images and text from various online sources for later retrieval. Create separate topics for each student to store all their related information including chats and discussion questions.
Free Trial: http://www.miclog.com/cgi-local/passw_lookup.cgi?type=trial_request&prodmap_product_id=17
5. Omnipage Professional 16
Application: Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
Benefit: If you have a scanner, this software is a superb tool to convert paper and PDF files into files you can edit with your favorite PC application, save or archive. The scanned document retains original formatting. You can convert, proofread and edit it in multiple formats. There is an option for creating searchable PDF files. The Professional version is bundled with PaperPort 11 (desktop management software that allows you to print, organize and share all your documents) and PDF Create! 4 (change documents, drawings and images into industry-standard PDF files). http://www.nuance.com/omnipage/
6. The Brain
Application: Visual Content Management
Benefit: Provides visual representations of connections and relationships within your information. Content usually exists “static” within directory trees (directories and subdirectories) and saved as files. The Brain creates associations between information — files, Web pages, people, and ideas or “thoughts”. You link information in a flexible form in surrounding this information with related “thoughts”. Clicking on a thought brings it to the center of the screen with information displayed and navigation allows you to flow from one related item to the next.
Product tour: http://www.thebrain.com/#-47
Free Trial: http://www.thebrain.com/#-53
7. SnagIt 8
Application: Screen Capture
Benefit: Versatile and easy to use utility that allows you to take screen captures of websites, desktop screen and software and edit the results. You can share high-quality screen captures in class posts, presentations and documents.
Free Trial: http://www.techsmith.com/download/snagittrial.asp
8. EndNote XI
Application: Research Tool – Bibliography and Citation
Benefit: Timesaving solution for organizing references and search over 1500 online bibliographic databases and download from over 500+ online databases. Create multiple libraries and groups to view and manage subsets of references and search all fields of compiled information. Instantly, formats (and updates) text citations, figures, tables, and bibliographies is in over 2,800 publishing styles. Full-text articles and resources stored in PDF file or on the Internet are linked to references.
Free Trial: http://www.endnote.com/endemo.asp
9. DR Paper 5
Application: APA/MLA/Turabian Document and Reference
Benefit: Software creates a document consistent with all APA or MLA requirements and automatically formats citations as you are writing your paper, in perfect APA, MLA or Turabian Style. CiteWrite is the program’s bibliography feature helps you cite web pages, journal articles, books, reports — almost any source work. http://thewritedirection.net/drpaper/
10. Respondus 3.5
Application: Online Assessment
Benefit: Respondus 3.5 can save you hours on building online tests. It is a powerful tool for creating and managing exams that can be printed to paper or published directly to Blackboard, WebCT, eCollege, Angel and other eLearning Systems. It supports up to 15 question types, including calculated and algorithmic formats.
Respondus 3.5 demo movies: http://www.respondus.com/products/demos.shtml
Free trial: http://www.respondus.com/register/regtrial.shtml
11. StudyMinder
Application: Time Management
Benefit: System that assists students (and even faculty) develop the skills they need to get their work done. Organizes and tracks all deliverables, upcoming assignments, tests and projects. It automatically records daily study time.
Demo video: http://www.studyminder.com/
Free Trial: http://www.studyminder.com/download.html
Endless possibilities exist for incorporating software as tools for teaching, engaging students and building online learning communities. Use the identified “free trials” to explore professional improvement and best position yourself for regular teaching assignments.
REFERENCES
Berger, J. (2007). “Classroom of the Future Is Virtually Anywhere.” Retrieved January 15, 2008, from NewYorkTimes.com Web site: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/education/31education.html