In the past week of my Teacher Ed. Technology class we have been focusing on digital images and using the software inspiration. In my opinion, Inspiration is a great program and tool for any teacher of all grades. After getting used to the program, you really cannot ask for an easier digitalized program in producing concept mapping.
As I have progressed through my different education classes I have seen how important and helpful concept mapping can be to students in your class and the teacher! For many students that need adapted materials in class Inspiration is a wonderful tool, a teacher can easily type up her outline and convert it to a map, that can use picture for the different tools. In thinking about all the uses for these differentiated materials I feel that using picture next to words in a connected fashion would be an indispensable tool for ESL teachers, in all grades! For teachers, using a concept map also helps with pacing through your lesson. I know I am forgetful about many things when giving a presentation, therefore I know that I will need to have detailed lesson plans for my first couple years teaching. Using Inspiration has given me a lot of new ideas to help me stay on track in lessons. For myself, anytime information is grouped in a web or linked type of way it automatically facilitates an easier interpretation of the material instead of just bulleted lists, that I have to read through to find out where I am at.
Also, using this software with your class would be a great review tool. Before a quiz or test, pull up the program and collaboratively make the Inspiration chart of the material that will be covered and e-mail it to all your students, or print off for any without Internet access. Therefore students can have a visual to look at that helps in organizing their thoughts!
For my first Inspiration chart I have used it to make a map of how a bill becomes a law, which can be used in Government High School and in Social Studies Middle School rooms, for extra material. The process can be somewhat long and daunting, therefore a chart on one page helps the students in following all the processes.
As I have progressed through my different education classes I have seen how important and helpful concept mapping can be to students in your class and the teacher! For many students that need adapted materials in class Inspiration is a wonderful tool, a teacher can easily type up her outline and convert it to a map, that can use picture for the different tools. In thinking about all the uses for these differentiated materials I feel that using picture next to words in a connected fashion would be an indispensable tool for ESL teachers, in all grades! For teachers, using a concept map also helps with pacing through your lesson. I know I am forgetful about many things when giving a presentation, therefore I know that I will need to have detailed lesson plans for my first couple years teaching. Using Inspiration has given me a lot of new ideas to help me stay on track in lessons. For myself, anytime information is grouped in a web or linked type of way it automatically facilitates an easier interpretation of the material instead of just bulleted lists, that I have to read through to find out where I am at.
Also, using this software with your class would be a great review tool. Before a quiz or test, pull up the program and collaboratively make the Inspiration chart of the material that will be covered and e-mail it to all your students, or print off for any without Internet access. Therefore students can have a visual to look at that helps in organizing their thoughts!
For my first Inspiration chart I have used it to make a map of how a bill becomes a law, which can be used in Government High School and in Social Studies Middle School rooms, for extra material. The process can be somewhat long and daunting, therefore a chart on one page helps the students in following all the processes.
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