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Inspiration™ or Kidspiration™
Inspiration is a visual thinking and learning tool that can be used for brainstorming, planning, and organizing information through the use of flowcharts, diagrams, outlines, concept maps, or mind maps. Inspiration (or Kidspiration for K-5 students) can be used across the curriculum in many ways to support learning.
The following are some general examples of learning tools. For additional examples, see the Educator's section of the company's web site with searchable examples and lesson plans, or visit the Inspired Learning Community for cross-curricular integration ideas for K-12 classrooms.
Examples These are nonfunctional image files intended only to illustrate how spreadsheets can generally support learning. These were not designed specifically to support collaboration as you are required to do with your webquest project.
Assignment
Create a tool to help students organize, share, prioritize, analyze or otherwise use information gathered within their individual roles of the WebQuest activity. This should be a tool specifically designed to support group collaboration. It should help students work together to synthesize and apply the information they have each gathered individually and advance their group's progress towards completing the culminating task of the webquest.
You may use Inspiration, Kidspiration or a Spreadsheet to develop this collaboration tool. It should be referenced within the Process section of your webquest and available to download as an attachment at the bottom of the Introduction page.
Requirements
If you choose to use Inspiration or Kidspiration to support collaboration within the WebQuest project, at least two of the following features must be incorporated to enrich the activity:
- Notes (Inspiration)
- Hyperlinks
- Audio (sound file or recorded sound, not just integrated text-to-speech feature)
- Video
- SuperGrouper (Kidspiration)
- Symbol Maker (Kidspiration—only if created as example of what students would create)
- Math tool (Kidspiration—color tiles, pattern or base ten blocks, fraction tiles or boxes)
Note—Large audio, video or image files may result in a file too large to attach in Google Sites. Attachments in Google Sites may not exceed 10MB.
Include a set of directions at the top of the collaboration tool. Write these directions to your students explaining:
- the purpose for using the tool
- how the tool should be used as a group to collaboration using information related to their culminating webquest task
- specifically what they are to do, including how to use the features that you've incorporated (i.e., hidden notes, hyperlinks, audo/video--where are these and how are they to be used?)
All symbols should be labled with text (or will be labeled by learners according to directions provided).
Links should connect related symbols (unless these symbols are designed to be moved around the screen or linked by students according to the directions provided). Arrows should be linked in the direction which represents a logical flow of information.
Shapes, color and text formatting should be used consistently to make the tool inviting and usable for learners and to reinforce the organization of information.
Spelling and grammar are included in the assessment of this project (up to 10%). Inspiration has a spelling checker utility in the Text menu.
Submitting
Attach your Inspiration (.isf) or Kidspiration (.kid) file to the bottom of the Introduction page of your webquest. If you don't see the Attachments area at the bottom of that page, go to More Options > Page Settings to enable it. The collaboration tool should also be referenced within the Process section of your webquest.
You are not expected to submit this collaboration tool directly in eLearning. We will assess it within your WebQuest project.
Reflection
You are not asked to submit a separate reflection for this collaboration tool until you create your digital portfolio when you will align it with INTASC Standards 4, 6 and 11 following the Reflection Guidelines.
Inspiration / Kidspiration Point Structure:
Directions are provided at the top of the collaboration tool and describe to students:
- the purpose for using the tool (2)
- how the tool should be used as a group to collaborate using information related to the culminating webquest task (2)
- how to use all features of the tool such as notes, hyperlinks, audio/video, etc. (4)
8
All symbols are labeled with text (or will be labeled by learners according to directions provided) 4 At least two different features from the list above are incorporated into the tool 8 The use of features enriches the activity 4 Tool demonstrates how to effectively support collaboration 8 The activity is a logical extension of the WebQuest 4 Formatting such as shape, color, text size, etc. are used consistently to be inviting, usable and to reinforce the organization of information (hierarchy of concepts, for example).
2 Where necessary, links connect symbols (or will be connected by learners according to directions provided). Links represent logical connections between levels of information, and arrowheads are in the direction of the flow of information. 2 Spelling & grammar (-1 per error) (up to 10%) File is attached at the bottom of the Introduction page of the webquest (10%) Special Notes:
- Download a 30-day trial of Inspiration or Kidspiration to work on your project at home.
- You are not expected to submit this project directly in eLearning. We will assess it within your WebQuest project. It should be attached at the bottom of the Introduction page.
- Be careful not to attach a shortcut file (.lnk) in your webquest. After attaching your file, confirm that the name ends with ".isf" or ".kid"
- Save your project on your USB Flash drive as a backup and for future reference. You will need a copy when developing your digital portfolio.
Page updated: February 9, 2010
Ed Tech & Design Instructors, Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction, University of Northern Iowa
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