50 Open Source Applications for Sci-Tech Education: Page 4

Open Source: Physics

With this interactive physics simulator, you place some objects on the screen, add some physical forces, and then see how they interact. It covers classical mechanics, particles, springs, gravitational and coulomb forces, collisions, molecular dynamics, and much more. (Note that in order to use Step on Windows, you'll have to download KDE for Windows.) Operating System: Windows, Linux.

37. Open Source Physics

This project aims to bring computational physics and computer modeling to the undergraduate classroom. Tools at the site include simulations, EJS modeling, curriculum packages and programming tools. Operating System: OS Independent.

38. Tracker

Built on the Open Source Physics Java framework, Tracker combines videos of physics experiments with computer modeling. Key features include object tracking, center of mass tracking, rotational motion data, interactive graphic vectors and more. Operating System: OS Independent.

39. Physlets

"Physlet" is short for "Physics Applets." This collection of Java-based applets demonstrates a variety of physical laws and for teachers and students. Operating System: OS Independent.

40. Xoscope

Especially helpful for educators teaching lessons on sound, Xoscope turns any Linux PC into an oscilloscope. It can accept audio input from up to eight different channels. Operating System: Linux.

Open Source: Online education/eLearning

Available in 35 languages, Claroline is used by hundreds of organizations in 93 countries to facilities online learning. It gives instructors the tools they need to manage documents and links, create online exercises, develop learning paths, coordinate group work, and much more. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

42. Moodle

One of the best-known online education tools, Moodle boasts more than 18 million known users taking more than 4 million courses. It supports both online and blended learning classes and is designed to support a social constructionist framework of education. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

43. eFront

One of the most visually attractive of the online education suites, eFront offers a very easy-to-use interface. In addition to the free community edition, it's also available in paid education and enterprise editions that add more features and support. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

44. ILIAS

ILIAS is used in 19 different countries by organizations that include Novell, United States Joined Forces Command (US JFCOM), NATO, and the Canadian Air Forces. Its key features include course management, tests/assessments, standards compliance, strong authentication, webcasting, online surveys, and more. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

Open Source: Report Authoring

For students and researchers involved in writing papers individually or collaboratively, WIKINDX makes it easier to track quotations and notes. It integrates with numerous content managements systems (including Moodle, MediaWiki, and WordPress) and supports a variety of bibliographic style guides. Operating System: OS Independent.

Open Source: Robotics

The Player Project offers three separate pieces of software that enable robotics research: Player provides a network interface for controlling robots and sensors. Stage simulates the interaction of robots in a 2D environment, and Gazebo simulations robotic interactions in a 3D environment. Operating System: Linux, Unix, OS X.

47. NASA Vision Workbench

Developed by NASA's Intelligent Robotics Group, Vision Workbench is a general purpose image processing and computer vision library that has been used to analyze images on the moon and Mars. It's most useful for robotics researchers and developers who have a good working knowledge of C++. Operating System: Windows, Linux, Unix, OS X.

Open Source: Testing

This app allows teachers to administer digital assessments (computer-based tests) that students can access from a wide variety of devices. It's Web-based and provides scheduling and reporting tools to assist the instructor. Operating System: OS Independent.

49. iTest

Another computerized testing option, iTest uses a client-server setup. It asks instructors to first establish a database of questions and answers that can be categorized, grouped and flagged in various ways. They can then design examinations which either use all of the questions provided or pull from the database according to criteria which they control. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

50. Safe Exam Browser

This app aims to prevent cheating on digital exams by locking down the browsers in a digital classroom. It prevents students from browsing the Web, using shortcuts, right clicking and switching to other applications while an exam is in progress. Operating System: Windows, OS X.