Freeware / Shareware

Yesterday, I visited a school in Buffalo. They were running a number of shareware programs on their network. Apparently, New York has cut budgets for software and that has led to schools looking for the most cost efficient solutions.

The programs I was most impressed with were a series from Tux. They had Tux Math, Paint and Social Studies. All three would be suitable for any school. The teacher who found the programs is no longer at the school and the present computer instructor has been unable to find them online. I looked today. I thouhgt I had found the download for Tux Paint, but once the download was finished, it was a different program.

Sometimes shareware can be a hassle. Things that are called shareware and advertised as free, end up costing $$$. But if you spend enough time looking, there are some gems available.

If you are interested, take a look at

http://www.educational-freeware.com/freeware/

There seems to be some good ones there.

I'll keep looking, but if you do find a site with the Tux downloads, please let me know.

George


The website you posted has so many excellent links! I looked for the Tux Social Studies but didn't find anything. There are a lot of links for the Tux paint though.

http://www.northcanton.sparcc.org/~technology/Tutorials/Files/free_programs.html

Here is a link to some tux downloadables and the teacher who created this webpage also gives tips on how to search for and safely download these free programs.

Hope this is helpful - sometimes I'm not sure how to gage these sites. I guess you don't know until you try.

Gina:)

Thanks Gina. I've downloaded Tux of Math Command and they didn't even ask me to support them with a voluntary contribution.

Math Command is a 'shooting game' but you are only shooting falling numbers. On the positive side, if you miss and the numbers hit bottom, you can quickly remedy that by getting the next question correct. I know the kids I saw using it, loved the game.

Besides the fun, there is a huge array of Math number facts and skills that are included.

I would say it is well worth a look, for any teacher, from primary, up to grade 7 or 8.

The Tux Paint has a fairly strong military component, so you might want to think about that, before showing students.

George

I just downloaded the Paint program and I don't see the military scenes that students were using in Buffalo. I know the version at that school had been installed a couple of years ago. Perhaps the update does not include the war scenes.

Without the tanks, etc., Tux Paint is definitely worth taking a look at.

George