This course uses the symbol of the digital palette on the left as an outline of the forms of composition that are routinely placed on the Web, which thereby defines what literacy in the 21st century has become. The course assumes that by now you know how to carry out basic word
processor and email activities.
Those taking this educational method's course will need to have access
to certain software and hardware resources in order to complete assignments.
If you are a Western student you should have the necessary applications already.
If you are on WCU's campus, all these resources are available to
you outside of class in our campus public labs. If you are some distance
from this campus and taking this course online as a distance education
course you will need to find your own access to these tools. Unless otherwise
noted, all recommended applications run on both Windows and Macintosh computers.
Primary factors in the selection of applications are cost, ease of learning
and hard drive storage space. It does not matter which platform you use to complete assignments outside of class, though you need experience on both platforms. If you do not have nor wish
to buy any application software listed below, it is available on campus
public computer labs. Graduate students may also use the public lab facilities at UNCA, notably Western Carolina's Lab in Karpan Hall, room 036.
The primary recommended titles are below. If you would like to substitute
something else, please consult with the course instructor. Changes may
be made from semester to semester and other categories may be added at
any time. Course participants need access to:
| Application Category | Windows OS | Macintosh OS | Linux OS * |
| Web page (HTML) editor | SeaMonkey (free) |
SeaMonkey (free) | SeaMonkey |
| Email (any will do) | Web Browser | Web Browser | Web Browser |
| Word processor | Microsoft Word | Microsoft Word | Star Office |
| Spreadsheet | Microsoft Excel | Microsoft Excel | Star Office |
| Database | Microsoft Access | Filemaker Pro | MySQL, Star Office |
| Draw | Microsoft Publisher could also be used) | Adobe Illustrator | Gimp |
| Paint | Microsoft Paint | Adobe Illustrator | Gimp |
| Desktop publishing | Microsoft Publisher | ||
| Electronic slideshow | Microsoft Powerpoint | Microsoft Powerpoint | Star Office |
| Video | Windows Movie Maker | iMovie | |
| Audio/Music | GarageBand | ||
| Animation | Adobe Flash | ||
| 3D/VR | Second Life/SketchUp | Second Life/SketchUp | Second Life |
| Sensors/Robotics | Lego Mindstorms NXT | ||
| Other Specialized Hardware | |||
| Internet access (modem, cable, DSL, satellite) | some form required | some form required | some form required |
| Scanners | available in labs | available in labs | available in labs |
| microphones | LogicTech headphone set with Mic and USB connection | LogicTech headphone set with Mic and USB connection | LogicTech headphone set with Mic and USB connection |
| digital camcorders | available for checkout | available for checkout | available for checkout |
| digital cameras (for photographs) | available for checkout | available for checkout | available for checkout |
| MIDI keyboard with its computer interface and a related software program | optional | optional | optional |
* I am also interested in supporting the Linux platform but need some convincing that it meets all course needs, so call me to make your case if this of interest to you. Linux software can be tracked at SourceForge. I have not tested any Linux software for assignment capacity or ease of learning. StarOffice is currently free for the Linux OS and covers some of the categories. A major problem is that many of the chapters and tutorials use multimedia (audio, video, virtual reality) which require Quicktime (a multimedia enabler from Apple) and Flash (an animation enabler from Macromedia) which are supported on Win and Mac but not Linux at this time. It appears that currently the course cannot be done solely on the Linux OS but would also require access to one of the other two operating systems noted above.