Kidspiration/Inspiration

Kidspiration/Inspiration is an interactive learning tool which enhances visual learning. Kidspiration is geared toward students in grades K-5 and Inspiration is designed for students in grade 6-12. This software is designed to assist in visual mapping, outlines, presentations, and note taking. Out of the two Kidspiration is a more basic version of Inspiration. Its purpose is to further develop literacy, vocabulary, comprehension, written expression and mathematic skills.

Uses for the classroom (courtesy of the University of Wisconsin-Stout) http://www3.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/50uses.cfm

1.Assist students in organizing information

1.Assist teachers in planning lessons/units/themes

2.Illustrate school's goals or plan for Parent-Teacher Organization

3.Illustrate instructional goal links to testing expectations

4.To show what each grade will be teaching and how units fit into the larger picture of curriculum for the whole school

5.Assess student learning

6.Show integration of different topics across the curriculum for a unit, lesson, or long-range plan

7.Present difficult material in a step by step manner

8.Plot summaries

9.Create cause/effect/solution diagrams to resolve social issues within the classroom

10.Book design elements

11.Illustrate digestive system

12.Local government diagram

13.Defining new terms

14.Introducing a new concept

15.Note-taking organizer

16.Detailed processes (how to add polynomials etc.)

17.Creating storyboards for Powerpoint and Hyperstudio presentations

18.Comparison activities

19.Historical cause and effect

20.Cycles (recycle, weather, etc.)

21.To construct a food chain

22.Map of where items are stored in desk, trapper, or locker

23.Library orientation

24.Language Arts - character descriptions, plot movement, action that leads to the climax

25.Math-to teach algorithms (especially division)

26.Math-problem solving because it is non-linear

27.Create instructions for games

28.Create picture charts that students can follow if they are communication impaired. Kids can follow picture symbols such as the symbols found on the Mayer-Johnson Boardmaker software.

29.Help study for a test.

30.Classroom organization chart with associated responsibilities

31.How to/step by step for learning new software

32.Developing a course or workshop

33.Planning a WebQuest

34.Documenting job responsibilities

35.Planning a Web site

36.Personal professional goals

37.Concept maps to send home to parents to help explain a unit so they can help their children study/review

38.Assist cooperative groups in defining projects and dividing job responsibilities.

39.Faculty/district - responsibilities of committees

40.Flow charts for behavior plans for either the classroom or a specific student

41.Similarities between different units through the use of the same structure in the graphic organizer.

42.A tool for students to identify when they do not understand information and identify the where the breakdown is in their comprehension.

43.To add more depth in a compare/contrast lesson, for example, identifying the important variables by color-coding or other visual element, and then deciding if the variable is the same or different in the two objects of study.

44.Showing relationships.

45.Procedures to follow during an emergency drill such as a fire or storm drill;

46.Lab procedure explanation

47.To present lab conclusions and highlight important concepts (especially prior to completing a written explanation)

48.In foreign language classes create an organizer that shows the English word on one side and the foreign language word equivalent on the other side with pictures as hints.

49.When studying a poem, in the center concept list the name of the poem and the connecting lines contain phrases from the poem. The subconcept explains the words in the phrase and the literary technique used such as personification

Content Specific Examples of Using Kidspiration/Inspiration in the classroom:

Plot summary, defining projects and job responsibilities, creating story boards, language Arts - character descriptions, plot movement, action that leads to the climax, assist students in organizing information, defining new terms, create picture charts that students can follow if they are communication impaired (accommodation and modification purposes), and showing relationships.

How to use Kidspiration/Inspiration:

Visit the website: http://www.inspiration.com, there you can select the appropriate software that you would like to use. Before purchasing it, you do have the option of trying out the program for a 30 day free trial.

Once you have settled on a program to use, watch the tutorial video which provides information on how to navigate the program. The tutorials are also available on You Tube.

There are other links for lesson plan samples, videos and webcasts, success stories, awards, standards matches, awards, special needs, inspired learning community, and help center.

The software must be downloaded in order to be accessed, which can be done by clicking this link: http://www.inspiration.com/Freetrial#Kidspiration

Resources:

http://www.inspiration.com/Examples/Inspiration#Language-Arts

http://www.inspiration.com/inspiration-multimedia-web-examples

http://www.inspiration.com/specialneeds#overview

http://www.ket.org/artstoolkit/drama/lessonplan/

http://www.angelfire.com/nm/marston6/

http://www.proteacher.com/080010.shtml