"The essential tool to visualize, think, organize, and learn"

-inspiration.com

 

 

Inspiration encourages learning in multiple modes, which results in students gaining and retaining a better understanding of concepts, demonstrating knowledge, and improving their performance across curriculum.* 

 

  

 

 

 

Visualising Ideas, Concepts, and Relationships

In Diagram View, students create graphic organizers — a core element of visual learning — to analyze, compare and evaluate information. With symbols, links, text and multimedia files, Inspiration makes it easy to express ideas, discover relationships, and develop new thoughts and perspectives. 

 

 

 

Improving Writing Proficiency

Inspiration has a number of tools to help you enhance your writing.

 

WORD GUIDE is a built in dictionary and thesaurus.  It provides definitions, as well as synonyms for each definition. 

To Use: Highlight the word you need assistance with.  Go to Tools-->Word Guide or simply right click on the highlighted word.  If you decide on a synonym to replace your existing word, select the synonym and hit the Replace button.  The new word will now appear in your diagram or outline.

 

CONTEXTUAL SPELL-CHECKER works just like a word processor spell check by underlining misspelled words in you outline or diagram. 

To Use: Go to Tools-->select Auto Spell Check

 

TRANSFER your work to a word processor or web page.  This feature allows you to easily turn your thoughts into essays, powerpoints, webpages, etc.

To Use: Click the last icon that appears on the toolbar or go to File-->Export. 

 

 

Plan, Organize, or Complete Projects

Inspiration's pre-made TEMPLATES make it easy to organize thoughts, put together projects, create lesson plans and activities, etc.  There are 65 templates available on inspiration.  They are organized by subject area and specific content to make your hunt simpler.  Inspiration also allows you to create your own template if you cannot find what you need.

To Use: Go to File-->Open Templates

 

Other great tools that Inspiration provides to make your life easier are the Checklist feature and easy to follow trainging videos at inspiration.com.   

 

 

 

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Kidspiration is a multi-curricular visual learning aid for grades K-5.

 

"Students use visual tools combining pictures, text, numbers and spoken words to develop vocabulary, word recognition, comprehension, reasoning and problem solving skills."

 

-kidspiration.com

 

Kidspiration provides many ways of "graphically organizing" class lessons from writing, math, social studies, science, etc.

 

 

 

 rEaDiNg AnD wRiTiNg: 

 

Kids can create stories and descriptions using engaging visual tools and explore new ideas with thought webs and maps. Students can also combine pictures, text and audio to develop comprehension, organize ideas and create stories.

 

MATH:

 

Kidspiration enhances the principles of visual learning in mathematics with the help of visual math tools. Combining the hands-on learning power of manipulatives with all the added benefits of computer interactivity.

 

Sciences and Social Studies:

 

Kidspiration comes with various templates and pre-made activities for more in depth understanding in science and social studies.

 

-Pre made activites can be edited to fit lessons from Human Health to School Bullying

 

 

Benefits for ELL and ESL students

Kidspiration strengthens English comprehension with the integrated Picture and Writing Views, the Word Guide, longer audio recording capacity and expanded symbol search and libraries.

 

Kidspiration provides emphasis on developing and using independent strategies such as pictorial representation of thoughts and concepts, and sight vocabulary lists in Word Guide which align with Fry's Instant Word List*, Dolch Word List* and TESL* vocabulary.

 

<-------------(please open up kidspiration)------------->

 

*Picture view/Writing view

*Talking interface

*Audio support

*Symbol maker

*One-click transfer to work processors-Microsoft^® Word, Scholastic Keys^® and Appleworks^®

 

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=0002442706148939f55c

 

 

 Resources:

- Lesson Plan Books (created by Kidspiration)

 

- Textbook Connections (developed by various education textbook publishers)

 

 

 

*References

-Inspiration Software, Inc. Retrieved from http://inspiration.com.

 

-Teachertube.com