|
Click the books to go
HOME |
Teachers & Students |
|
Inspiration Software, Inc. 800-877-4292
http://inspiration.com/ Grades 6-8 Social Studies Debbie Tager SOFTWARE
DESCRIPTION: Limited only by my
linear thinking, a step-by-step tutorial took me on a
forty minute walk through a wonderland of what student work can become in a
tech-savvy world. Inspiration 8 incorporates
the ease of Microsoft Word, the fun of Windows Paint (an accessory on most
Windows systems), and the modern spin of QuickTime (an Apple program that
runs audio and video files) in a program that should come pre-installed on
every school computer. Not only does
it run easily with Windows, it is compatible with Macintosh and markets
itself to both servers. Inspiration 8 is
a tool used to create diagrams and outlines that format simultaneously (see
pictures at the bottom of the screen); with a few clicks of the mouse users can design graphic organizers in any shape and
size. Students and teachers alike can
create diagrams in the format of simple webs or complex summaries that
provide a way of organizing and extending learning. In addition to its use as a creative tool, Inspiration
8 comes equipped with a wealth of standards-based curriculum resources
including unit plans, complete with pre-designed graphic organizers and
student exemplars…And this is just the introduction! ACCURACY
OF CONTENT: One example of its curriculum materials is
a unit on the Industrial
Revolution that comes included on a 30-day (fully functional!) trial edition
of Inspiration 8 (http://inspiration.com/freetrial/index.cfm). This unit includes both a clear purpose and
alignment with content standards in the form of benchmarks that will guide
student understanding. Units come with
built-in templates and student exemplars that accompany the tasks it
provides, and gives enough freedom to design class-specific standards, goals,
and lessons. The trial edition boasts
that the full program includes “over 50 Curriculum Packets in language
arts, social studies and science to help teachers effectively implement
visual learning techniques while they address multiple learning
styles.” If this sample unit is
any indication, Inspiration 8 is an
asset for any classroom. In a
personal survey of grade eight U.S. History students, I found that the
majority of them preferred a visual aide when learning about ANY topic in
Social Studies. They described
themselves as understanding better when visuals are included in lessons and
better able to remember what they were learning. With this in mind, Inspiration 8 is more than relevant in its inclusion of an
extensive picture library and video capabilities – it is
necessary. The software includes conventional templates such as the popular
compare and contrast "Venn diagram" as well as non-traditional
models including an "opinion proof" that guides students to
determine whether opinions have enough evidence to be valid. All templates are easy to navigate and come
with directions in the form of “notes” linked to the diagram
itself. TECHNICAL
QUALITY: As a tool that will enhance the curriculum of a classroom, it is
important that software be easy to navigate from the start. While Inspiration 8 provides a
forty-five minute tutorial (PDF format) that guides users through the various
elements of creating and manipulating diagrams and outlines, those familiar
with Microsoft Word will quickly pickup on the subtleties of navigating this
program and breeze through the tutorial.
Most of its formatting and shortcut strokes (e.g., Ctrl+C
to “copy” and Ctrl+V to
“paste”) mirror those of Word and the few that do not are easy to
learn. For those without experience on
Word or a similar word processing program, the tutorial (that includes graphics
and samples of what it is telling you to create) adequately explains each
item as it guides the user to create a diagram complete with sound, video,
pictures, color-coding, and notes. The
only requirement for full access to all the program’s resources is an
internet connection. If these elements were not enough to sell
the program, how about the fact that Inspiration 8 can
be easily ordered direct from the website in packages that authorize use on
1, 5, 10, or 20 computers. If you are
feeling “inspired” you can link right to the company’s
website right now to try out the software! (http://inspiration.com/store/main/index.cfm) USE
OF TECHNOLOGY: What is unique about Inspiration 8 is the intertwining of its
features as a “tool” with standards-based content in almost
unbounded sequence. While QuickTime
may run educational videos pre-installed with a unit of study, it also allows
students to insert video clips directly into a diagram from a digital camera
or the internet. An extensive picture
gallery allows its users to locate pictures as quickly and easily as they can
with Google images, but without having to filter
through the unnecessary finds to get what they want. Moreover, the point-click-insert format of Inspiration
8 allows users to incorporate them easily into outlines and diagrams from
a floating “symbols” box within the window of the program rather
than another open browser on the computer screen. In
addition to video and pictures, students can link websites, email addresses,
other documents, or inspiration pages right into their work. As stated,
formatting is incredibly easy; just type, click, link, erase, change font,
color, add pictures, sound, video, all with the click of a button! While I am a linear thinker and like to
perfect one part of a diagram before moving on to another, for those who are
less encumbered, this program will be a delight to navigate not only because
of its ease but also because of its variety of resources at a user’s
index finger. It offers the amenities
of spell-check and an extensive dictionary-thesaurus (Word Guide) with a
multi-sensory approach to outlining. ROLE
OF STUDENTS: Whether creating a graphic organizer
on their own or following a template, students can record their thoughts,
play them back, add appropriate pictures, videotape themselves giving a
presentation (Web-cam not included) and upload it to a website for students
to view halfway around the world. The
presentation is embedded in the diagram and includes an outline, explanatory
notes, and a link to the teachers’ email address and school website so
that the students viewing the presentation and its accompanying outline
(halfway around the world) can see where this broadcast is coming from and
email their responses about it. In
other words, the possibilities are limitless.
ROLE
OF TEACHER: The pliability of the program lends itself
to being both a teaching and assessment tool with differentiation
built-in. Student interaction with the
program is directly related to how teachers choose to craft
lessons and units using the program as a tool or supplement to the
curriculum. Inspiration 8 is
not set up to guide students through pre-designed lessons; unit plans are a
framework for instruction and their templates are models for assessing
student progress that teachers can manipulate and save. While it takes a short time to learn how to
use Inspiration 8, students will need the practice before being authentically
assessed using templates and creating diagrams. Keeping in mind that just
as some students learn to write a paragraph faster than others do, some will
become more comfortable with the program at a faster rate than others will. Students who are more adept with the
program can progress while others gain familiarity with it and produce
similar thinking processes that Inspiration 8 simplifies and enhances
on a word processor. While some
students may take more time, they do not need to lose the essential thought
processes that go into creating a diagram or outline simply because they are
learning with the program. Despite the
capabilities of this program, if students do not know how to think through a
problem or organize their thoughts, they will find it difficult to use Inspiration
8; the active role of a teacher is vital to growth in student
understanding. CLASSROOM
USAGE: Teachers can choose to closely guide how
students manipulate templates (program or teacher-created) to assess specific
understandings, or can let students loose to create their own individual or
group projects. With this in mind,
students would benefit from going through the program’s tutorial and
gaining familiarity with the program individually. From there, teachers could assign group
projects in which students are responsible for individual parts of a large
diagram or individual diagrams as part of a large group project. Inspiration
8 goes beyond programs like PowerPoint in its formatting, ease, and
interactive nature, lending itself well to group presentations and the
development of necessary organization skills.
In short, the program may be manipulated to
meet students’ needs, and students may manipulate the program within
set parameters to be as creative as they like. CRITICAL
SUMMARY: None says it more accurately than those who market the program: “Inspiration® is the
essential tool students rely on to plan, research and complete projects
successfully. With the integrated Diagram and Outline Views, they create graphic
organizers and expand topics into writing. This powerful combination
encourages learning in multiple modes. As a result, students gain and retain
a better understanding of concepts and demonstrate knowledge, improving their
performance across the curriculum”
(http://inspiration.com/productinfo/inspiration/index.cfm). Not only is Inspiration 8 a tool for students to help organize and extend
their thinking, but it is useful for teachers in designing engaging units and
lessons. Inspiration 8 guides its users to think “outside of the
box” by allowing them to create their thoughts in an audio-visual
interactive format. This program is
necessary for anyone who wants their students to
read, write and think effectively. OVERALL
RATING (SCALE OF 1 TO 10): 10 out of 10 EXPLANATION
OF RATING: If Inspiration 8 were simply a shell in which to create
diagrams and outlines, without access to curriculum resources and up-to-date
tools, it would not be great.
If it were difficult to navigate, without engaging features such as
pictures, video, and voice recording capabilities, I would not recommend
it. Lucky for educators and students,
it has all these things and more; I recommend it highly to any teachers
interested in enhancing their curriculum for today’s learners Below is a diagram
created in Inspiration 8 on the
Industrial Revolution. This diagram displays a unit of study
complete with links to pre-designed webs to guide student work. Scroll down to see the program in outline
view…
Below is an outline
of the diagram represented above. By
clicking a button on the task bar, users can switch back and forth between
diagram and outline views. All text
information and links included in the diagram are also included in the
outline.
|
|
|
Homepage
| Review of His Name Was Lincoln | Lesson plan for Inspiration
8 Software © D. Tager | Last Revised |
|
