Software for the ACA 2012 Learning Institute
Microblogging
For the purpose of the Learning Institute please create a Twitter account. You can do so by going to Twitter Home Page and joining Twitter. Besides using the webpage interface for Twitter, there are standalone applications for desktops/laptops and apps for portable devices you can use.
Mac Laptop/Desktop Apps
Twitter for Mac
PC Laptop/Desktop Apps
Twhirl
TweetDeck
iPad Apps
Twitter
Twitterific
iPhone Apps
Twitterific
Echofon
Tweetbot
Android Apps
Tweetcaster
Plume
Seesmic
Nook App
Twitter
my6sense
Blogging
WordPress or Blogger are free and available blogging software platforms that counselors and counselor educators are using for their blogs. I have used both but have a greater preference for WordPress as it is emerging as the top platform. WordPress has many design features and also has tablet and smartphone apps. If you plan to initiate some blogging, you may wish to create a free account. If blogging is not on your technology plan, we will be simply demonstrating how the platform has been used.
iPad
Wordpress
Blogger
iPhone
Wordpress
Blogger
Android
Wordpress
Blogger
Nook
Wordpress
Blogger
RSS
In order to store your RSS feeds you need to have a gmail account. Please create a Google email account if you do not have one. You can get a free gmail account at the Gmail Login. Once you create an account you will use that account to store your RSS feeds in the Reader portion of Google. For learning about RSS feeds and how to use them it would be helpful if prior to the Learning Institute if you had your gmail account and you have loaded one of the RSS software or app for your laptop, tablet, and/or smartphone apps. We will be introducing you to counseling related RSS feeds that will help you in your practice and teaching.
Mac Laptop/Desktop Apps
NetNewsWire
Newsfire
PC Laptop/Desktop Apps
FeedDemon
SharpReader
iPad Apps
Feeddler
MobileRSS HD
Pulse
iPhone Apps
NetNewsWire
Reader
Byline
Android Apps
Google Reader
NewsRob
NewsDroid
Nook App
Feedly
Digital Storytelling
Digital storytelling is a process we use in counselor training and can be used with clients as a form of self-expression and self-understanding. For creating a digital story, you will need to use a laptop/desktop computer and depending on what operating system you have you will need an audio recorder/editor and a video production program. There are two steps to the production of a digital story, recording the audio track, and mixing the audio tracks with video/pictures using video production software.
We will be showing some results of digital stories created by students, and given time and interest, showing the steps to creating one. It is not essential that you load all the software here for the purpose of the Learning Institute, but if you are interested in creating a digital story here are your resources.
Sound recording/editing
Audacity is a free multi-platform audio recorder editor. You can export to .wav audio format which should work with most video production software.
Video production
Video production, where you add the audio you have recorded to a sequencing of pictures or video using a video production software, has been complicated by the multiple possible computing platforms (Max OSX, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7) with differing video production software
Windows Movie Maker There are a variety of ‘Movie Makers’ based on the Windows operating system that you are using. The more recent operating systems (Windows 7) in an attempt to make their ‘movie maker’ more user friendly, have made the program a “drop and drag” program with presets. This makes it harder for you to edit your movie if you want to do anything that is outside of the preset range.
I have looked for 3rd party free video production programs that are simple timeline-based and have found a promising option free for non-commercial use VideoPad Video Editor Look for the link for the free version download. The program site has a tutorial page that will give you the basics of constructing a movie from your audio and pictures.
For Macs, your best option is to use iMovie.
Second Life
In order to be involved in Second Life you first have to create a free account at http://join.secondlife.com. Once you have an account and have created an avatar, you need to download the viewer software, open the software and login as your avatar with your password. We will be demonstrating SL and if you have an account and an avatar you can join us in world in the demonstration.
We have created a location called Counselor Education in Second Life for counselor educators and training professionals that offers training and an annual counseling conference. The website that explains the CESL project is http://SL.CounselorEducation.org Contact us and we will be happy to help you join us at CESL.
For the ACA workshop we will be going into SL and showing you how to move around. If you would like to see a quickstart guide for Second Life look at http://secondlife.com/support/quickstart/basic