I am the Research and Instructional Design Coordinator at the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. My work covers developing classroom and e-learning instructional materials for compliance topics ranging from Biosafety and Export Control to Developing Proposals and Competitive Budgets for grants.

Bruce's Top 10 Tools as at 21 August 2008

1. Photosynth: A Microsoft photography tool for creating photographs into panoramas as well in a 3-D environment. Could be useful for showing 360 degree view of a laboratory or classroom for safety design or technology development. Create the panoramas to be placed on a blog or website. 

2. Google Sketchup: Great to use to create 3D modeling projects for use in e-learning training modules: 

3. PDFMenot: A free online PDF viewer. 

4. BITSTRIPS: Ability to create comics to be used as a learning tool or create a story/scenario or case study: 

5. ColorBlender: get the ability to choose web-safe colors for color matching and palette design for your website or e-learning project

6. CamStudio: Screen and audio recording software to create video of screen activity. Has a built-in SWF Producer handy to convert AVI’s to SWF. 

7. PDF Download: Firefox Browser extension that converts web pages to PDF. Good tool to use for showing subject matter experts the look and feel of an e-learning module before publishing live. 

8. Sizer: Be able to resize any window to an exact, predefined size. Helpful when designing web pages to see how the page will look at different sizes.

9. EclipseCrossword.com: Create crosswords to be used in educational and training settings. 

10. Sloodle: Merging of Second Life and Moodle. (Open Source Learning Management System): Virtual world and education engagement  

Bruce's Top 10 Tools as at 17 March 2008

1. Lectora: Excellent Authoring tool for developing elearning materials using all available file types
    
2. Reallusion iClone software: Great to use to create talking animated (Avatars) custom characters for use in e-learning modules
    
3. Microsoft PowerPoint 2007: Drawing tools and Image creation have been upgraded.
    
4. Paint.net: A free image and photo editing software
    
5. Browsershots: See different screenshots of your website in different browsers
    
6. Gliffy: Free diagramming software
    
7. Adobe Captivate 3: Excellent simulation software
    
8. Polldaddy: Create surveys and pools for your elearning module
    
9. ooVoo: Free video chat tool.
    
10. Moodle: Open Source Learning Management System: