Kidspiration -Software Evaluation-

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Kidspiration-Software Evaluation-

• Critiqued By Lindsay Randall
• Class ISTC 301

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Background Information

• Founded in 1982 by Donald Helfgott and Mona
  Westhaver with a focus on business software
  products.
• 1987-First version of Inspiration was created.
• Kidspiration was created
• in January 2001.

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Software/Tools needed for Kidspiration

• Macintosh or Power Macintosh Requirements
  System 7.1 or later, including OS X 2 MB
  available RAM 640x480 display, 256-color
  display 5 MB available hard drive minimum,
  30 MB hard drive available for all symbols and
• Help CD-ROM drive (for installation
  only) Optional Macintosh compatible printer
  Optional Internet browser Optional
  Microphone

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Software/Tools needed for Kidspiration (
Continued)

• Windows Requirements 486 processor or higher
  Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT 4.0, ME or XP 8 MB
  RAM 640x480 display, 256-color display
  Windows compatible graphics card 5 MB
  available hard drive minimum, 20 MB hard drive
  available for all symbols and Help CD-ROM
  drive (for installation only) Optional
  Windows compatible printer Optional Internet
  browser Optional Soundcard and speakers
• Optional Microphone

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Avaliability

• You can order it online at any of the
  Kidspiration websites.
• The cost ranges from
• 50.00-69.99.
• You can download a
• free 30 day trial at anytime.

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Website for Kidspiration and Inspiration

• http//www.inspiration.com/productinfo/kidspiratio
  n/index.cfm

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Software Objective Statement

• Created for K-5 learners, Kidspiration
  provides an easy way to apply the proven
  principles of visual learning. Students build
  graphic organizers by combining pictures, text
  and spoken words to represent thoughts and
  information. Younger learners develop early
  literacy skills, and more advanced students
  improve comprehension skills and better organize
  ideas for writing. (http//www.inspiration.com/
  productinfo/kidspiration/index.cfm )

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Kidspiration can help students/children

• Develop ideas
• Organize thinking
• Gather information
• Making connections between data and visual
  representations
• Develop critical thinking
• Develop stronger cognitive skills
• Develop content knowledge
• Stimulate creative thinking

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Kidspiration offers necessary tools such as

• Visual Learning- Using graphs to work with ideas
  and presenting information.
• Visual learning can help students clarify
  thoughts/ideas, organize and analyze information,
  integrate new knowledge and to think critically.

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Types of educational tools that Kidspiration
provides...

• Webs-Visual Maps- shows different categories of
  information that relate to one another.

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Webs

• Used for
• Brainstorming
• Organizing information
• Writing
• Prewriting
• Analyzing
• Types Literacy webs, Character webs, Comparison
  webs and Prewriting webs

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Idea Maps

• Idea Maps Stimulates students to generate
• Ideas follow through develop their
  ideas visually
• Used for Brainstorming, solving problems and
  planning school work.

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Example of an Idea Map
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Mind Maps

• Mind Maps Connect branches of related topics,
  ideas and subtopics.
• It provides an overview of complex information
  and finding new connections.
• Used for Brainstorming, taking notes and
  planning tasks.

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Example of a Mind Map

• Mind Map

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Concept Maps

• Concept Maps Links two or more concepts that are
  linked by words and describes their relationship.
• Used For To reiterate ideas using students own
  ideas.

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Kidspiration

• Kidspiration can be used for all subjects and can
  be integrated into any classroom environment or
  lesson plan.
• Students use symbols, pictures, colors and
  keywords to create educational information.

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Kidspiration ( Continued)

• This software gives educators feedback on the
  information that students misunderstood.
• Kidspiration has no violence. It only has fun,
  active and visual tools for students to use.
• This software gives students a choice of picking
  symbols and pictures using the tool bar.

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Positive Aspects
Negative Aspects

• Classroom Compatibility
• Educational Support
• Teacher Support
• Educational Value
• Technical Quality

• Some students may get confused with the abundant
  amount of information
• Costly

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Final Thought

• Excellent educational tool
• Easy directions
• Used and provided worldwide
• Can be integrated in all subjects

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Would I use Kidspiration in the classroom? Do
I recommend it

• .

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Without a doubtYES!!!!!!!!