Google Docs as a Survey Tool

Google docs
docs.google.com/
Can create a form to be filled in by others. Results are automatically put into a spreadsheet for you.

However, Google Docs is much more: Word processing, spreadsheet, presentation. Collaboration with others. Accessed online. Office, but not the newest, can be uploaded, edited, shared. See ideas on Google Docs for Teachers.

Here is a sample:

When you create your form it can have many questions.

Creating Cartoons

Bitstrips

You do need to sign up for an account. It's free. This is one of the free strips with the most options. Cartoons can be on "one scene" as shown below or as many frames as you choose. It can even be a whole story! Loading the program does take awhile, so it may not be something to do with and entire class at one time. You can even create your own character (from within some limited choices.) As you can see below, I've created one account for my Julian Middle School students to use from school or home.

Live & FREE conferencing

• DabbleBoard|
  Free 'whiteboard' for collaborative online communications, dabbleboard, lets you use visual as well as verbal or written communication.

This resource was suggested by Marsha Goren and Matt Kuntz.

• Dimdim
  Lets you deliver synchronized live presentations, whiteboards, and web pages while sharing voice and video on the internet – with no download required.
  
  
• Jing! PC and Mac - Download free software
  Take a screen snapshot; record video of onscreen action; share instantly over web, IM, email. Can also be used asynchronously. Saves as .swf file
  
  
• Yuuguu
  Simple and easy to use screen sharing, web conferencing, remote support, desktop remote control and messaging.
  
  
• SKYPE
  Free internet calls - Make free Skype-to-Skype calls – any time of day, any day of the week, anywhere in the world.

Smilebox

Smilebox is a great way to send ecards and/ or slideshows to your partners. Use your own photos. Hundreds of designs for almost any occasion. Music too, or you can add your own. FREE version does have advertising.

Here's a sample of what you can do.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Drawing/Editing Tools

Purchasing drawing / editing software for all the computers in a lab or school can be daunting. While most computers come with some basic resizing, cropping, brightness/contrast tool, to do more than that, you can use these FREE web sources.

1. Gimp
   http://www.gimp.org
   If you've always wanted PhotoShop and cannot even afford PhotoShop Elements, Gimp is FREE, open source software that, with a little work learning on your part, will put you into the image manipulation scene.
   
   
2. CleVR
   http://www.clevr.com/
   Create panoramas from photos
   Embed with code snippet
   
   
3. picnic
   http://www.picnik.com/app
   Edit photos online. Apply effects without an expensive photo editing program.
   Save to computer.
   
   
4. ArtPad
   http://www.art.com/asp/artpad/default.asp
   
   Creative paint program that allows for drawing unique works.
   Downside: can only save picture online. However, screen capture does work.
   
   
5. Aviary
   http://aviary.com/home
   Photo edition, logos, web templates, filters, color palettes, screen capture....and more!