Accessible Add-On Collections for Firefox

Paul Hamilton — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:01:00 +0000

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the challenges of add-on compatibility when upgrading to new versions of Firefox. My post elicited an extremely helpful response from Ira Socol about a resource he has facilitated with MITS (Michigan Integrated Technology Supports).

For anyone looking for add-ons that make web browsing more accessible with Firefox, most of the hard work has been done by Ira and MITS. Add-ons have been located and helpfully placed on a single page from which they can be downloaded and installed. All of the listed add-ons work with Firefox 3.613, and most work with the beta version of Firefox 4.

There are separate pages for the Mac and PC versions of Firefox. Clicking on the appropriate symbol below will take you to the option you want.

The collections include 21 options for the PC and 22 for the Mac. These add-ons support a wide range of needs, and I believe anyone who supports learners should check them out. All learners deserve to be given the opportunity to try as many supports as possible. Each individual learns uniquely, so it is dangerous and wrong to assume that any learner does not face learning challenges of some sort.

Among the listed add-ons, there are supports to help with physical and vision challenges, supports for reading, supports for doing maths, and much more. As time permits, I hope to highlight some of the specific add-ons. The images below offer at least a glimpse of what is available.

U Tech Tips Wiki (Online Resource)

Paul Hamilton — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:10:04 +0000

I’m convinced there is no online tool more versatile or more useful for educators and learners than the wiki. The range of possibilities is unlimited. Almost everyone is familiar with Wikipedia, which describes itself as, “The biggest multilingual free-content encyclopedia on the internet.” The success of this enormous collaborative resource speaks for itself.

I believe that learners everywhere should have access to Wikipedia and use it as a learning resource. There are, however, countless situations where relatively small-scale and purpose-specific wikis can be used to great effect. I’m writing today about one example that offers an invaluable resource for educators working at all levels. It also illustrates what a well designed wiki can look like.

U Tech Tips Wiki: A Wiki of Software for Educators by Educators. Jeff Utecht set up this wiki only a couple of weeks ago, and the framework is just starting to be fleshed out with content. This is a wiki that clearly has the potential to become an extensive repository of well organized digital educational resources. Anyone may contribute to the wiki, and it is extremely easy to do so.

Listings are organized according to operating system–Windows, Apple, and Linux. There is a fourth major heading for web-based applications and Firefox Add-ons. Some of the pages under each of the platform headings include: Office Suites; Photo; Video; Screen Capture Software; Educational. Some of these categories may prove to be too big, but one beautiful thing about a wiki is that the structure can be adapted as needed. Click on the image below for a larger view of how the home page is laid out.

Jeff Utecht has recently become an “Educator Ambassador” for Wetpaint Wikis, and this wiki nicely demonstrates the unique features of the Wetpaint Wiki platform. U Tech Tips Wiki is my first serious look at Wetpaint Wikis, and so far I’m favourably impressed. I like the look, the organization, the feature-set, and the ease of editing.

If you use software to support education, I encourage you to consider contributing to U Tech Tips Wiki. As James Hollis reminds us, “Sharing is Caring!”

Free Resources from the Net for EVERY Learner » Windows

Accessible Add-On Collections for Firefox

U Tech Tips Wiki (Online Resource)