When computers are purchased, they are usually installed with the latest software. For Windows machines that will mean the Vista operating system and Office 2007 (Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.) This can be very exciting for everyone in the family and the students will soon be producing projects and papers using their new equipment.
What a disappointment if they arrive in school with a file or send an assignment to a teacher only to discover that it is not able to be read or printed. Why?????? Not all software programs are compatible. In MSAD#52, we have installed many Open Source programs. These software solutions are very robust and capable of supporting all the necessary objectives of our school program. Plus, they are free to install for anyone. The Office Suite being used on all student machines is Open Office. (http://www.openoffice.org/)
You are also welcome to download and install this on your new (or old) Windows home computer systems. If you do not wish to install this software, you can guarantee that your products are compatible by clicking Saving As in your word processor – and selecting Office 2000.
What other software is available for free – and being used by your students in MSAD#52?
GIMP – this is a substitute for Photoshop – http://www.gimp.org/
IrfanView – a nice photo-editor - http://www.irfanview.com/
Audacity – Sound recorder and editor - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Google Earth – satellite imagery, maps, terrain and 3D buildings - http://earth.google.com/
Tuxpaint - drawing program for children ages 3 to 12 - http://www.tuxpaint.org/
Gcompris - an educational software which propose different activities to children from 2 to 10 years old http://gcompris.net/-en-
If you have any questions about our software program or technology in general, please contact Sharon Betts, Educational Technology Coordinator at sbetts@msad52 or 225-4565
