Inspiration and Kidspiration

Using Inspiration and Kidspiration as a Teaching and Learning Tool

To begin learning about Inspiration and Kidspiration, we're going to do a in-class exercise and visit Inspiration's website or Kidspiration's website. Be prepared to answer the following four questions and then using the websites provided at the end of this assignment or one of your own, find an example of using Inspiration or Kidspiration in the classroom:

1. What are several purposes of the program you reviewed?

2. For what grade level is the program intended?

3. Now go to the Visual Learning section and click on the Research link. What do the creators of Inspiration/Kidspiration have to say about its impact on learning?

4. Do other professionals who are less biased agree? Use Google and find at least one good web site or article that discusses the value of graphic organizers. You might try search terms such as "graphic organizers and learning" or "research on graphic organizers". List the URL for one research-based site and summarize what you learned from this web site.

To learn more about the programs, you can go to either Inspiration or Kidspiration take their quick tour to learn just a bit about how it works. You can also use the Quick Jump menu to explore "Inspiration Examples" or "Kidspiration Examples." You will see that several are listed by academic discipline.

Note that there are many examples of ways teachers are using these programs. For example:

U of W - Stout: 50 Uses for Inspiration and Kidspiration

Inspiration in the Classroom

...and there are many, many more wonderful projects already developed for use by K-12 educators! Find an example of how Inspiration or Kidspiration is used in your discipline to share in class.

ASSIGNMENT - 20 points

Your assignment is to create either an Inspiration document that maps out your Newsletter assignment. First, you must select and research your topic for the newsletter. You will find and use four good websites/articles to learn more about the topic you choose. These should be quality resources. (The topic must be appropriate for your subject area, e.g. 5th grade social studies, be of potential interest to parents, and be approved by instructors.) Once you have done your research, you will then map out your newsletter. Your Inspiration document must include:

  • 1 Main Topic (Newsletter Header, e.g. "Notes from the Music Room")
  • 4 Sub Topics (minimum - these will be articles/components within your newsletter)
  • Text Labels on your Topics
  • Different colored idea boxes
  • 4 graphics from the library
  • 4 hyperlinks to Internet resources
  • Links connecting your idea boxes

Once you have completed your concept map, you will need to:

  • email your first draft as an Inspiration document to instructors
  • convert your final draft to a pdf file
  • publish it on your Technology Project page