Tools from the Trenches

Data & Presentations

• CDC EZ-Text (create, code, manage, and analyze semi-structured qualitative databases)
• Data Linkage (probabilistic record linkage programs to detect duplicates or match records in a database)
  • Link King (requires a base SAS license but no SAS programming experience)
  • Link Plus (Windows stand-alone program, can match on up to nine variables, user manual and SAS macros available)
  • Linkage resources for Native health and education data and research
• DataVisualization (40 data visualization tools and tutorials)
• Netdraw (Windows program to produce two-dimensional network maps from agency-level Collaboration Scale ratings)
• Prezi ("zoomable" presentation software)
• Sketchup (3-D modeling tool)
• Statistical Software (software for statistical computing, including Dataplot, R, and Winstats among others; also see RStudio.org for an intuitive interface and tools for R)
• Word clouds (create customizable "word clouds" from your text to visualize word frequency)
  • Wordle 
  • Tag Cloud Generator
  • TagCrowd
  • Tagxedo 

Collaborations & Projects

• FreeConferenceCall.com (reservationless conference calls with downloadable MP3 recordings)
• Google Calendar (keep one or multiple calendars online from anywhere, includes annotations and reminders)
• ooVoo (12-way video chat, instant messaging, and recording/uploading to YouTube) 
• OpenProj (open-source desktop project management application similar to Microsoft Project)
• PARTNER Tool (tool to collect, analyze, and interpret data to improve organizational and community collaborations)
• SignUpGenius (organize meeting, training, and event participants/volunteers online)
• Skype (free computer-to-computer calls worldwide and subscription-based computer-to-phone service)
• Trello (online collaboration tool for project management)
• VolunteerSpot (online participant/volunteer signup, scheduling, and management)
• Wikispaces (basic multi-page websites, discussion platforms, and space for collaborative document development)  

Files & Documents

• Box (access, manage, and share up to 50 GB of files collaboratively)
• Dropbox (online file sharing)
• Google Docs (create, share, and collaborate online with documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more) 
• PDF Management Tools
  • HTML to PDF (convert HTML web pages to PDF)
  • PDF Protect (add password protection to a pdf document file online)
  • PDF Split! (split pdf documents into one or more pieces online)
  • PDF Split and Merge (open source tool to split and merge pdf documents)
• Zamar (online file conversion between numerous computer file formats) 

Geographic Mapping

• ArcGIS (3-D geographic information system viewer permits exploration, visualization, and sharing of GIS information; fuse your data with map services to create custom maps with color-coded variables)
• BatchGEO (creates maps by zip code)
• DIYMaps (Do-it-yourself color-coded county, state, US, Canada, and Mexico maps)
• Free Zipcode Maps (creates scatterplot maps based on zip codes) 

Surveys & Polls

• Doodle (schedule an event by polling the availability of multiple people)
• Google Forms (online survey forms to collect RSVPs, run a survey, or create a team roster)
• LimeSurvey (open source survey application; unlimited surveys, questions, and participants)
• PollEverywhere (poll an audience and have live responses sent via text message on mobile phones, response graphs update in real time; free for up to 40 people, inexpensive plans for more)
• SurveyGizmo (free version includes unlimited surveys with 250 responses per month)
• SurveyMonkey (online customizable surveys, free version allows up to 10 questions per survey)
• Zoomerang (online customizable surveys, free version allows up to 12 questions and 100 responses per survey)

Knowledge Resources

• Business Rules for Standardizing Name Fields (sample rules for "cleaning" names in a dataset)
• Community Toolbox (information and resources to build healthy communities)
• CYFERnet Search (interactive tools and vetted resources to build evaluation capacity, especially for those working with at-risk youth)
• HyperStat Online Statistics Textbook
• Social Research Methods (online methods textbook, selecting statistics, simulations, concept mapping)

• Convention Workshop Evaluation Form
• Convention Workshop Microphone Order Form (for on-site orders)

External Links

• Alaska Native Knowledge Network  
• American Indian Education KnowledgeBase  
• Bureau of Indian Education (Reports)  
• ERIC Website  
• National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE)  
• National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Policy Research Center  
• Native Hawaiian Education and Wellbeing Research  
• Regional Educational Laboratories (RELs)  
• U.S. Dept. of Ed., Office of Indian Education