OOo4Kids

That is Open Office oganisation for Kids – this is an ‘open source’ suite of  ‘office’ applications spun of f the back of the popular Open Office software which is compatible with the MS Office applications.

Open Source is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in. The Open Source Initiative (OSI) is a non-profit corporation formed to educate about and advocate for the benefits of open source and to build bridges among different constituencies in the open-source community. One of our most important activities is as a standards body, maintaining the Open Source Definition for the good of the community. The Open Source Initiative Approved License trademark and program creates a nexus of trust around which developers, users, corporations and governments can organize open-source cooperation.

The OOo4Kids suite comes with a word processor, drawing package, presesntation package and a spreadsheet and has buttons and toolbars designed for children between the ages 0f 7 – 12 years.

It is free to download and use (unless you wish to donate). The suite works on PC with Windows, Mac OX or Linux machines.

If you are of the programming mind then you could help to develop the applications further. Details are on the site.

Software Evaluations

If you want to check out the latest software evaluations by teachers it is always useful trying schoolzone.

Simulated excitement

You might like to try these 2 simulations … thanks to ‘Primary Nuggets’ for the feeds.

The parachute game

Tudor joust

Video Help Files

Oh WOW !!

I learned of this fabulous site by trawling my feeds and found it on the Kent Cluster Blog..

What fabulous site … here it is … TOTTON SCHOOLS EDUCATIONAL ICT WEBSITE … Video help files to support learning of the functionality of Inspiration, Spreadsheets, Logo Log IT Explorer, Publisher 2003, Junior Viewpoint, Flowol3, Digital Blue, Junior Librarian, Adding sound to various applications, Audacity, PowerPoint, Word, Flexi tree 2 and Moodle.