Tech Ed a.k.a. Industrial Technology

Greetings! I have been teaching Tech Ed for a few years. It is a server based program, and as with most canned curriculums, I can update my course for a mere $23,000 (which I do not have)! I have students with a range of abilities, skills and desire, and would like to find Open Source applications to enhance students understanding of Animation, Structural Engineering, Robotics, Electronics and Architecture (to list a few). Interesting hands on activities, as well as Open Source ideas welcome.

Tags: CATE, Education, Industrial, Technology

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Bosch on August 6, 2008 at 5:59pm

You might try these:
Programming:
Alice http://alice.org (download)
Scratch http://scratch.mit.edu (download)

Architecture:Floorplanner http://floorplanner.com (the creators gave me a full subscription as a teacher)
Architect Studio 3D
http://www.architectstudio3d.org/AS3d/design_studio.html

Creativity:Letter Pop http://letterpop.com
Sketchcast http://sketchcast.com
Create an Art Scrapbook http://www.artic.edu/artexplorer/
Kerpoof http://www.kerpoof.com

Drawing:
Google Sketchup (download) http://sketchup.google.com
ArtPad http://artpad.art.com/artpad/painter/
Mark Kistler’s Imagination Station http://www.draw3d.com/lessons.htm
Viscosity http://windowseat.ca/viscosity/
Flash Paint http://www.flashpaint.com/

Photoshop Express https://www.photoshop.com/express/landing.html

If you want Web 2.0 overload you might search http://www.go2web20.net/

We've used the Lego Mindstorm Robotics Technology for years--it's expensive but we've written grants over the years for kits, software and curriculum. They have two levels of a new curriculum coming out this summer. Let me know if you need any other suggestions, I follow several blogs that review tech tools and I'll be glad to pass those on to you.