Teaching IT without internet -s/w recs please

[Fat Tone]

Hi

My wife teaches in an establishment where they can't allow internet access for the pupils. Lets just say she has a captive audience.

She's trying to improve the syllabus (heck, teching them the ON button will be an improvement over what they've been doing until now).

Problem #1: In the qualification they want to adopt they are required to teach them how to change the dpi setting for an image (note I explicitly mean the dpi, not the number of pixels). Not much does this, maybe Gimp (way OTT) or Irfanview?

Problem #2: She needs to teach them raw HTML. All she has now is Notepad.

Problem #3: They have no software.

Problem #4: They won't buy any software.


So, I am looking for freeware that #1 does basic graphics work including changing dpi and #2 a simple HTML editor with preview.


Once we have that the next hurdle is persuading their s**t for brains administrator to log in so the s/w can be installed.

And don't get me started on the whiteboard and projector that have been there for years and can't be used as the s/w isn't installed!


She comes home knackered and drained every day she goes there (only 3 days a week thankfully). I am sure frustration (hers and her pupils) is the biggest cause.

Any recommendations please?

Thanks,

T.

[Dr Mordrid]

#1 - IrfanView can do dpi changes, and batch processing. Get & install the plugins too.

http://www.irfanview.com/

but its editing tools are rudimentary. For real editing featurez GIMP is hard to beat.

#2 - Notepad++ (C, C++, Java, C#, XML, HTML, PHP, JavaScript, RC file, makefile, NFO, doxygen, INI file, batch file, ASP, VB/VBS, SQL, Objective-C, CSS, Pascal, Perl, Python, Lua, Unix Shell Script, Fortran, NSIS & Flash action script)

http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

Both free.

[VJ]

Which platform is she using? Windows or Linux?

I use the website http://alternativeto.net/ to find alternatives to known software. Filtering allows you to get free or open source software, and filtering by platform. The downside is that you need to know what you want an alternative for. But for instance for Photoshop it gives:

http://alternativeto.net/software/adobe-photoshop/?license=free

As html editor, I used AceHTML, which has nice preview options. But there are alternatives:

http://alternativeto.net/software/acehtml-freeware/?license=free

[Brian Ellis]

What's the point of learning HTML without being able to upload it to a web site? The kids should take industrial action to allow Internet access and then they can get a free hosting site to see their efforts.

I think it was 1993 that I wrote HTML in MS-DOS Editor and uploaded my first web site to Compuserve, with a 2400 bit/s modem. Strangely, you can still use MS-DOS Editor on 32 bit WIN. Go to Command Prompt and type 'edit' - it works!

For free HTML editing, I strongly recommend CoffeeCup http://www.coffeecup.com/free-editor/ -- it does everything including code-checking, auto indents, colour coding, CSS style sheets, browser compatibility etc. Takes the pain out of Notepad.

Until the kids get Internet access, your Other Half can download at home and save to a memory stick.

[VJ]

edit: part removed

What's the point of learning HTML without being able to upload it to a web site?

It is perfectly possible, just run a webserver on the local computer. No need for it to be online.

[UtwigMU]

You can create access point with smartphone and buy a data plan card.

[Brian Ellis]

It is perfectly possible, just run a webserver on the local computer. No need for it to be online.

Of course, I do it all the time as a preliminary check before uploading, but I'm damn sure the kids would do better at the job if they had the 'thrill' of seeing their work published on the Internet. Poppa and Momma could also see it then, from home. As second best, Teacher's 'puter could be an intranet server.

What age are the pupils?

[TransformX]

What age are the pupils?

Medieval

[Fat Tone]

Hi Brian

If I could I would PM to explain to you why I am not being more explicit about where she works. I think VJ gets it.

Cheers

T.

[Umfriend]

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!

Although, in defence, "students" or "apprentices" might have made it slightly easier to understand.

[cjolley]

And Umfriend doesn't.

[Umfriend]

I would think that my suggestions limited the public to, you know, somewhat older than "pupils"? Puts "capitve" in a bit of a tighter context?

[Brian Ellis]

Yup! It was 'pupils' that threw me: I imagined primary school level. I see now that your OH is dealing with some more difficult, older, kids in what used to be euphemistically known as somewhat special schools or similar. Don't envy her. I also understand the Internet ban. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[Fat Tone]

Getting closer Brian

Yesterday was good, a new admin has admitted to them having a MS Volume Licence and will be installing old version of FrontPage etc sometime soon. That could be good enough.