Office Suite Definition:
An office suite, sometimes called an office software suite or productivity suite, is a collection of programs intended to be used by typical user and knowledge workers. The components are generally distributed together, have a consistent user interface and usually can interact with each other, sometimes in ways that the operating system would not normally allow [Wikipedia, March 2009].Usual Components:
- Document creation and editing applications
- Word processor
- Spreadsheet
- Presentation program
- Flowchart
- Image processor
- Database
Advantages:
- Low cost
- Simple, fast download
- No upgrade hassles
Course Management Systems Definition:
A course management system (CMS) is software for delivering, tracking and managing training [Wikipedia, March 2009]. Online office suites:
- Google Docs — an online office suite from Google, Inc. The suite includes a word processor, a spreadsheet program, and a presentation editor.
- OpenGoo — an open source, fully featured online office suite. The application can be downloaded and installed on a server.
- ThinkFree Office — is an office suite, from ThinkFree, Inc., that includes a word processor (Write), a spreadsheet (Calc), and a presentation program (Show). For Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.
- Zoho Office Suite — a free online office suite from AdventNet, Inc., that includes a word processor, spreadsheet, presentations, and collaboration groupware.
With your user name and password, subscribe to 2 or more of the online suites and/or course management systems. Examine several pages and determine what might work for you and your students.
Online Suites and CMS
- NiceNet http://nicenet.org
- Google Docs http://www.google.com
- Sakai http://www.sakaiproject.org/portal
- ATutor http://www.atutor.ca/
- Class Central http://www.classcentral.com/
- Zoho http://www.zoho.com/
Webslides: http://slides.diigo.com/widget/slides?sid=11119
