55 Ways to Bring Open Source into Education - page 4

Management, Collaboration, Science

Physics

44. Xoscope

Xoscope turns any Linux PC into a digital oscilloscope for analyzing sound waves. You can visualize up to eight channels at once, control the time scale, make measurements, and more. Operating System: Linux.

Report Authoring

45. WIKINDX

Remember the days of making note cards and bibliography cards by hand? WIKINDX replaces that laborious process with a digital system that makes it much easier to search for a quote or collaborate with multiple authors. And it automatically formats footnotes, endnotes, and bibliography for you based on your chosen style guide. Operating System: OS Independent.

Robotics

46. The Player Project

More middle and high school are offering classes in robotics, and The Player Project provides some of the software that supports instruction in robotics. It includes Player, a network server for robot control; Stage, a 2D multiple robot simulator; and Gazebo, a 3D multiple robot simulator with dynamics for simulating outdoor environments. Operating System: Linux, Unix.

Testing

47. TCExam

Compared to traditional pen-and-paper testing, TCExam makes grading much faster and more accurate, and it makes it more difficult for students to cheat. It installs on any server, and students can take the test from any computer or PDA with a browser. Operating System: OS Independent.

48. Safe Exam Browser

This app locks down students' PCs so that they can't use any unauthorized materials while taking an online exam. By default, it prevents students from closing or leaving the testing window, using keyboard shortcuts, using the right-click menus, switching to other applications, or surfing the Internet. Operating System: Windows.

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Typing

49. TuxType

In addition to typing lessons, TuxType includes two games for practicing your keyboarding skills. In Fish Cascade, kids help Tux the Linux penguin eat fish by typing the correct letters, and in Comet Zap, they save Tux from destruction by typing the correct letters. With its simple nature and cartoon character, this app is best for elementary-school kids who are just learning their way around the keyboard. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

50. Klavaro

In addition to the standard "qwerty" keyboard, Klavaro supports five other international keyboards and even lets you custom design your own keyboard. It includes a basic course for learning the locations of letters, as well as exercises for increasing adaptability (typing unfamiliar words), velocity, and fluidness. It also includes a progress tracking and a Linux-only game where students can challenge each other in the fluidness exercises. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

Open Source Education Apps by KDE

Astronomy

51. KStars

Developed by the KDE Education Project, KStars is a planetarium program that's very similar to Stellarium. Unique features include an altitude vs. time tool, what's up tonight tool, and an AAVSO Lightcurve Generator. Operating System: Linux.

Chemistry

52. Kalzium

Kalzium contains more information about the periodic table of the elements than most high school students ever wanted to know. It also solves chemical equations, shows pictures of the elements, and includes a helpful glossary. Operating System: Linux.

Flashcards

53. Parley

Part of the KDE Education Project, the Parley flashcard app stands out because of its extensive set of pre-existing flashcard files available for download. In addition to sets of cards to help you learn more than a dozen different languages, it also has cards to help you learn important dates, anatomy, music theory, chemical elements, and more. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

Geography

54. Marble

Marble is similar to WorldWind and Google Earth, but in addition to satellite imagery, it also lets you explore maps of the world. Choose from topographic maps, street maps, temperature and precipitation maps, and flat, Mercator projection, and globe views. Operating System: Windows, Linux, Unix, OS X.

Physics

55. Step

Sometimes it's difficult to demonstrate the principles of physics in a live lab. Enter Step. With this physics simulator, you place an object in a scene, add forces like springs or gravity, and see what happens. Operating System: Linux.

Article courtesy of Datamation