Presentation

Primarily one-way communication.

Name	Comments
Axon2007	What it Does: Organize and process ideas in multiple ways. Runs on: PC only Price: $135 Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: The extraordinary versatility of the program Worst Feature: The unfamiliar (but logical) and sometimes awkward interface Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Good My use: Regular --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: "The Axon Idea Processor provides a specially designed environment that supports and empowers the thinking processes. Objects and Links form the basic entities for idea processing. These entities are displayed in a multi-level, 3D workspace." It's true. Presentation note: Good for it's interactive flexibility - but not as smooth as Powerpoint
CmapTools	What it Does: Concept relationships - Useful in group situation Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Public server allowing group projects. Worst Feature: Initially difficult to see how powerful it is. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I have used it quite successfully in several courses. It was particularly helpful in promoting class interaction. Presentation note: Can use interactively - modify session on the fly.
Dreamweaver	What it Does: Web page creator - The industry standard Runs on: PC only Drexel Site License Best Feature: Doesn't add extra "code" like MS products. Worst Feature: Learning curve is fairly steep. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Good My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: Frontpage, the obvious competitor, is licensed at Drexel and is very good so long as you don't want to leave the MS world. Presentation note: I used it for this website.
Dunx1	What it Does: Drexel File Storage and web publishing server. Runs on: Web Drexel Site License Best Feature: 100MB of file storage accessible via FTP from home. Worst Feature: Web server is very basic - for security reasons I'm assured. Learning Time: Half Hour --- My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: Once set up it appears automatically on any Korman machine and can be easily added to appear automatically on your campus desktop. Techie Note: You can use "includes" by naming your files *.shtml Presentation note: Website hosting capability
Flickr	What it Does: Web Image search and storage Runs on: Web Free Best Feature: Widely used and therefor good collection of images. Worst Feature: Interface is confusing Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Regular --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: Share photos - I take advantage of "family and friends" to limit those that aren't interesting to a wider audience. You have to pay for extensive use, but not a lot. Presentation note: Useful for slide shows of web-mounted images (Flickr calls them "sets")
Google Earth	What it Does: View and zoom the entire world Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux - Uses Web Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Wow factor when exploring a geography-related aspect of a course. Worst Feature: Interface a bit clunky when going beyond basics. Learning Time: Minutes --- Export/Import: Medium Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: What a splendid, ever-improving tool. If you use it regularly it's worth it to spring the $20/year for the "plus" version. Presentation note: Wow factor is still high Review & Comments about Google Earth in Academic Tools Blog
MS Powerpoint	What it Does: The standard slide-show creator Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Professional appearance made easy. Worst Feature: It's difficult to change course in mid-stream presentation. Immediately Useful: Yes --- Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Regular --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: It's not fair to blame the tool for its misuse, but many people do.
Photo Story 3	What it Does: Animate still image - Like Ken Burns Runs on: PC only Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Enliven study of still images. Worst Feature: Requires planning and time for each image. Learning Time: Half Hour --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: Excellent for lectures. Review & Comments about Photo Story 3 in Academic Tools Blog

 

 

Update: 2006-11-26