Multimedia Desktop tools Part One

I do a lot of training in the use of software tools for elearning purposes and as such I thought it would be a good idea to share some of my recommended and preferred software tools with you. I have recently compiled a CD with these free tools freely available. Perhaps it might be useful to speak a little more about them hear and just briefly elaborate on some of their pedagogical uses where possible.

Audacity has in the past been, and remains a firm favourite within teaching and learning to create podcasts. A new version is available which upgraded features and operates slightly different from the version 1.2.4. The Audacity 2.0 as with its predecessor is created by Musicians for musicians. They have simplified the the cutting and splicing of audio clips and one can now also auto-record. Definitely worth a look.

Iwisoft Video Compressor allows for the effective batch conversion of video files to various formats. This is an indispensable tool if you are uploading video and audio to online courses. the pro's for this software is that you can extract certain clips as well as combine separate clips, add basic titles and watermarks to video without too much of a hassle.

IHMC Cmaptool (WinCMaptool) is a tool that is fast gaining popularity with staff and students as both a presentation tool as well as a learning tool. A different version of the software is available for MAC OS users. As a presentation tool it is a refreshing departure from the ubiquitous Powerpoint presentation and still allows one to incorporate different Multimedia such as video, ppt, images etc. As a learning tool learners can map the relationship between concepts with linking words.

Skype is still one of the most talked about tools in communication over the internet.  A basic requirement of course is that you have an internet connection, a good headset and webcam. Good for videoconferencing or for conducting interviews for research projects over distance.

I use Artweaver as a basic substitute for software like Photoshop. It is free and the learning curve is not that steep. I find it less cumbersome than using GIMP for example. Picasa is another substitute but with limited features in terms of image editing. If you are interested in adding titles/text to images, cropping and resizing or basic color correction and effects on images then Artweaver will suffice. Did I mention it is free?

I find it very annoying when I stumble across a very interesting video and for some reason it won't play due to an outdated flash player. Make sure that the flash player in your browser is up to date for easy playback on various sites.

Camstudio is one of my favourite screencapture tools as it allows you to capture video of any screen action. There are other alternatives but not all of them are free. For MAC Os users try Screenium even though I am not sure that it is completely free of charge.

Photostory is a freely available Microsoft tool that basically automates your images to make "Digital Stories". Very easy to use as it takes one through a step by step process of producing the final process with very little assistance. Once major drawback for me is that it doesn't support video and adding multiple audio tracks can become a pain. However, if you are just starting out with multimedia and using your images this might be right up your alley. Great for students as an alternative way of reporting on fieldwork or their experiences in their subject area.

Make sure to check back for part two of Multimedia Desktop tools.