Free Organization and Communication Software Anyone Can Use

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

Presenter: Shana Ellison

Introduction to free technology tools

Why are they free:

• Beta testing (Jott.com)

• Enticing new customers (SnagIt.com)

• Open Source or Shareware (OpenOffice.com)

• Business model (Google.com)

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

• Technology & the business of technology are continuously evolving.

• Tools appear and shift in the market at hyper speed. Some stay for many years, others…well, don’t get attached to any free tools!

• Often tools improve vastly over time.

• These might not be the best tools…but they’re FREE!

www.google.com

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

www.google.com/docs

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

Create and share your work online with Google DocsUpload your files from your desktop: It's easy to get started and it's free!Access anywhere: Edit and view your docs from any computer or smart phone.Share your work: Real-time collaboration means work gets done more quickly.

Documents

Spreadsheets

Presentations

Drawings

Forms

www.google.com/calendar

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

Share your schedule

Mobile app and syncing with mobile phone build-in calendar

Event reminders - sound, e-mail or text message

Send invitations and track RSVPs

Sync with your desktop applications, ex MS Outlook

Work offline view calendar wherever you are

www.CareCalendar.org

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

CareCalendar is a web based system to organize meals and other help for families during a time of illness or life changing event, such as the birth of a baby or death of a family member. It can also be used for long term situations, including homebound and caregiver respite care needs.

Easily schedule:Meals Errands Housework Rides Visits Yardwork Any need For:New Moms Cancer Patients Alzheimers Surgery Respite Care By:Churches Friends Support Groups Extended Family Bible Study Groups Co-workers Neighbors

www.Yelp.com

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

Yelp is an online urban city guide

Find and write reviews for services and vendors

Reviews are written by individuals/ ‘peers’

You must register

You can drill down by establishment or by reviewer

You can create a trusted social network by inviting friends or ‘following’ certain reviewers

You can share reviews on Facebook

www.Mint.com

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

Mint brings all your financial accounts together online, automatically categorizes your transactions, lets you set budgets & helps you achieve your savings goals.

See all of your accounts in one place

Auto-categorizes transactions

Alerts for low balance and bill reminders

Free mobile app for on-the-go viewing

Set budgets an financial goals, then track your progress

Monthly e-mails with goal progress and free advice

www.BillMonk.com

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

BillMonk helps you avoid the awkwardness of borrowing and sharing. We track the debts that might otherwise be forgotten, and we do the cumbersome money-math.

Know where you standWhat you owe and what you’re due

Drill down for detailsView by friend money and stuff that’s due between you

Bill AllocationIf someone covered dinner or the electric bill, this split - evenly or exact amounts.

Settle UpUse their online payment service

Use texts to create entries

Create a library of books and other possessions

www.MeetingWizard.com

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

Propose times

Review responses

Confirm a time

Communicate

www.Skype .com

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

FREE Skype-to-Skype:Calls to anywhere in the worldConference callsTalk face-to-face with live videoInstant messagingSend files

For a fee:Call mobiles & landlines (Skype out)Conference calls with people on phonesLong distance calls from your phoneGroup video conferencingSMS

www.FreeConferenceCall.com

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

FREE teleconferencing

Requires only name and e-mail

Reservationless

Immediate Access

Dedicated Phone Number and Access Code

Free Conference Call Recording, Playback And Download Features

Free Conference Call Detail Report

www.picasa.com

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

Picasa = Download software (mac or PC):

Automatically finds your photos on your computer

Add tags to photos

Edit photos

Add place locators

Picasa Web Albums = Online photo sharing:

Create photo albums

Set privacies per album

Social Networking

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

www.Facebook.com

www.LinkedIn.com

wwwTwitter.com/About

Solidify professional & personal connectionsStay aware of individual/ industry/ group updatesPost updates for announcements/ input/ marketingLeverage your network for jobs or resourcesExpert Advice through Q&A format

Real-time information – from who you’re followingUpdates from friends, news, businesses, interests, etc.Only as useful as the friends you followDisseminate status, promotions, news – but you need followersPosts limited to 140 charactersCan post to Twitter & FB simultaneously

Connect with friends & acquaintancesShare your life with posts, photos, videos & linksStay up to date with people far and near, past & presentSupport or promote causes/ businesses/ organizationsCreate events with open or closed invitations

Event Planning

2011 Effective Education Partnerships Conference

www.Evite.com

www.Eventbrite.com

www.Facebook.com

Create events that are publically searchable or invitation onlySearch eventsCreate payments, fees, donations (w/ multi levels), or make it freeCreates customizable order confirmation e-mailPromote event – FB & Twitter, with widgets on websites, etcCan include a surveyManage attendeesEvent reports and tracking

Create events with open or closed invitationsCan invite people without a Facebook accountRespond and track eventsTracks FB friends’ birthdays

Create an invitations by occasion –new version changesSends an e-mail to invitees and tracks attendance responsesIncludes a map linkLet others invite more people or restrictBought by American Greeting so now have e-cards