Ann Wesley
Kidspiration will be a tool for my students to use to organize and develop their
understanding in all areas of study, Math, Reading, Science, and Social Studies.
While working in a unit or theme, the students will be able to organize information using
the Venn diagram, KWL board, charting key points, connecting related items in:
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Math- creating geometrical shapes and categorizing them in groups of
triangles, squares, circles, etc.
Reading- creating a character map, or a story map (beginning, middle, end), or comparing two stories,
etc.
Science- creating a cycle chart or a pyramid chart – connecting all related items, etc.
Social Studies- creating a chart showing relationships between past and present, or developing a
display of different state shapes and identifying the shape to the correct state.
The students’ performance would be determined by their development of a program that
could be printed and then displayed on the overhead, to explain to the class. Creating games
that other students could answer, i.e., locating geometrical shapes.
The teacher’s roll would be first to instruct how to use this program,
Second to supervise the student as he/she worked on a project. The learner’s roll would be to
observe the instructional usage of this program, then to explore the many different areas –
through exploring and making different diagrams and/or outlines. When the learner has
some understanding of this program the teacher could then assign a task in any of the subject
areas, i.e.,
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Math – correlation between numbers, grouping of fact families, shapes, etc.
Reading – creating a character diagram, writing notes about the story, etc.
Science – creating a cycle chart, showing similarities and differences, writing notes and having
creating a diagram showing the connections, etc.
Social Studies – developing a timeline for events being studied, note taking and placing them in a
diagram showing the relationships, etc.
Art – creating a similarity /difference chart between two or more artists, styles of art work, types of
medium being used, etc.
Physical Education - listing the different types of exercises, i.e. cardiovascular, muscle builders,
endurance enhances…
- creating a diagram showing how nutrition relates with our body and assists use in development, etc.
After working on Kidspiration, I believe my students would develop a better
understanding of any topic, if they were to write facts in the note form and/or transferring
them to diagram form, could increase their conceptual understanding. Allowing the student
to explain the notes and/or diagram to other students would further their understanding, by
presenting the information and answering questions. Creating an overhead copy and letting
them present it to the class or letting students go to the computer; I also could assess my
students’ understanding of the topic.
As I work with my students, I believe they will learn from reading information from a
text, I know they will develop a better understanding of the information by explaining it
back to me. Having them create their own chart, graphs, and diagrams further increases
them remembering the information that was read in the text. Jere Brophy states in the
Education Practices Series - 1, that “Students need sufficient opportunities to practice and
apply what they are learning, and to receive improvement-oriented feedback” Mr. Brophy
supports my belief by stating the research supports it. “1st) The teacher present information,
explain concepts and model skills. 2nd) The teacher asks questions and lead their students in
discussion and other forms of discourse surrounding the content. 3rd) The teacher engages
the students in activities or assignments that provide them with opportunities to practice or
apply what they are learning”. *
Mr. Brophy further states, “The teacher provides whatever assistance students need
to enable them to engage in learning activities productively.”* Through this method of
teaching, I want to ensure that I provide guidance and feedback during the activity. I need
to monitor my students work and give suggestions for improvement when needed. When
my students are working on an assignment, I need to clearly state the ideas and goals that are
to be accomplished.
The scope of this project would be the school year. Having the students start in
September, creating simple diagrams or notes about classroom rules. Completing a personal
chart on their summer activities, then comparing it with a classmate. These simple tasks
would then allow them the familiarity of the Kidspiration program. When other tasks are
needed, i.e. creating a character map, cycle diagram, etc., my students would have a greater
chance in completing the task.
The needed resource for this task to be accomplished, would be the purchasing of
Kidspiration and Inspiration. http://www.inspiration.com/home.cfm By purchasing both programs, my
students would then be able to become familiar with the higher level program (Inspiration),
after they became knowledgeable with Kidspiration.http://www.inspiration.com/productinfo/index.cfm
My students would be able to use the computer daily and access the Internet, if
needed. I would need to change my style of teaching, in that; is it important if all my
students are at their seat, during a lesson? Or, are my students getting more from the lesson,
by working on the computer and creating something that they can present to their classmates?
I believe the lessons learned from this project, would be the understanding of the
Kidspiration program. Using the writing format would increase my students’ ability to
understand how to use notes, such as:
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2.
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5.
6.
School
teacher desk
 desk ---student's seat
 chalkboard--- used to aid in learning
 calculator --- provided for classwork
 paint jars----art supplies
clock ----be aware if on time
backpack ---- student's responsiblity
books ----bring to school everyday
graduation -----goal - to achieve
* Brophy, Jere, Teaching, The International Bureau of Education –IBE, EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES SERIES – 1
http://www.ibe.unesco.org/
Knowing how to create diagrams, labeling the diagrams, using pictures if needed – to further
describe the information, such as:
My students have not been able to work on this program. I was able to obtain at trial CD and
will now be able to install it on my classroom computers. I do hope the educational benefit
will be that my students will develop a greater understanding of how things relate. I could
have used this in assessing their understanding of landforms, instead of relying on the
Quarterly test.
I have seen this program before, yet I have not used it in my classroom. Believing it
would be time consuming to teach my students. I also felt I needed to have more equipment,
such as a television monitor – to have all students view the program at once. After spending
the time working on this program, I found that my students could develop a better
understanding by working alone or with a partner and explore the tools. By giving them a
topic to focus on and let them create the diagram, my students could develop an
understanding of this program. I believe that by using this technological innovation in my
classroom, I will aid my students in developing a better way to display their understanding. I
have several students that have difficult time writing; this program could increase their
performance – through the use of short notes and/ or pictures in the diagrams.
I am excited about installing this program on the classroom computers. My students
are always eager to be on the computer and if I have another tool/program for them to show
their knowledge, I know they will be willing to try and create a diagram. The pictures make
it simple in creating a diagram, and then by showing them how to transfer it to writing, will
simplify their understanding of notes and how to use them.