Entry 003

Dragon's Log
StarDate: 14th. March, 2010.

KIDSPIRATION

     WHAT IT IS

     Kidspiration is an educational software program that focuses on developing thinking, literacy and  numeracy skills using the forum of proven visual learning principles. According to the website, the software helps students acquire strong thinking skills, strengthen their reading and writing skills and builds their conceptual understanding in Math. Students are able to interact with the software in visually appealing environments, for example, they can build concept maps, bubble and Venn diagrams, they can expand their visual ideas into written expression and they can us visual math tools like graphs and charts to understand essential Math concepts.

USES/RELEVANCE IN CLASSROOMS

      Research has undoubtedly shown that visual learning is one of the best methods for teaching thinking skills. This approach is actively preached as a need in our teaching environment and this option should be fully explored. With an iota of the financial backing from the Ministry of Education, a very powerful educational software and teaching tool can be made available to schools throughout the country. The new option at the website to obtain site licences now make mass awareness and interaction of the software a reality.

     Kidspiration provides built-in lesson plans which, apart from being perfect in curriculum delivery, saves teachers a lot of time. There are also many video and webcast integrated material to inspire students in their visual realm.

     Results obtained from S.E.A. and National Test examinations show that the literacy rate of students  across the country is declining. Kidspiration is an opprotunity to turn the wheels of our country's literacy awareness in a positive direction. The approach to reading and writing assists students in creating, organising and explaining ideas and information with audio and video assistance . This caters for students with dynamic learning processses and will inspire and motivate them  to required outcomes.

The following are further links to Kidspiration's functionality and uses:

General Review of Kidspiration.

Kidspiration Demo.

Talking Interface in Kidspiration.

Bubble Maps In Kidspiration.

REFERENCES

Kidspiration - The Visual way to explore and understand Words,  Numbers and Concepts. Retrieved March 14th, 2010 from

      http://www.inspiration.com/kidspiration

How Concept Maps, Webs, Idea Maps and Plots help students in the classroom. Retrieved March 14th, 2010 from

     http://www.inspiration.com/Parents/Visual-Thinking-and-Learning

Use Concept Maps to graphically illustrate relationships between information. Retrieved March 14th, 2010 from

     http://www.inspiration.com/Parents/Visual-Thinking-and-Learning/ConceptMaps

Kidspiration supports success across  the curriculum. Retrieved March 14th, 2010 from
     http://www.inspiration.com/Kidspiration/Details#Visual_Math_Tools

Kidspiration supports success across the curriculum. Retrieved March 14th, 2010 from
     http://www.inspiration.com/Kidspiration/Details

Scientifically based Research on Graphic Organizers and Visual Learning. Retrieved March 14th, 2010 from
     http://www.inspiration.com/Educators/Research

Inspiration Software Site Licences. Retrieved March 14th, 2010 from
     http://www.inspiration.com/sitelicenses

Kidspiration videos and webcasts for using visual learning in your classroom. Retrieved March 14th, 2010 from
     http://www.inspiration.com/videos/Kidspiration

YouTube - Review of Kidspiration. Retrieved March 14th, 2010 from
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vocCAcFtmQ

YouTube - Kidspiration Demo. Retrieved March 14th, 2010 from
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN0aOiCIcQk&feature=related

YouTube - talking Interface in Kidspiration. Retrieved March 14th, 2010 from
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuLhUqhUReg&feature=related

YouTube - How to create a Bubble Map in Kidspiration. Retrieved March 14th, 2010 from
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY7uSMKWPVI&feature=related

SITES I COMMENTED ON

1. ANDREA SIMMONS' BLOG

2. FAZEED ABDOOL'S BLOG

3. SAMDAYE RAMLAL'S BLOG