KidspirationKidspiration-Software Evaluation--Software Evaluation-

Critiqued By: Lindsay RandallCritiqued By: Lindsay Randall

Class: ISTC 301Class: ISTC 301

Background InformationBackground Information

Founded in 1982 by Donald Helfgott and Founded in 1982 by Donald Helfgott and Mona Westhaver with a focus on Mona Westhaver with a focus on business software products.business software products.

1987-First version of Inspiration was 1987-First version of Inspiration was created.created.

Kidspiration was created Kidspiration was created

in January 2001.in January 2001.

Software/Tools needed for Software/Tools needed for KidspirationKidspiration

Macintosh or Power Macintosh Macintosh or Power Macintosh RequirementsRequirements

• System 7.1 or later, including OS X • System 7.1 or later, including OS X • 2 MB available RAM • 2 MB available RAM • 640x480 display, 256-color display • 640x480 display, 256-color display • 5 MB available hard drive minimum, • 5 MB available hard drive minimum, • 30 MB hard drive available for all symbols and• 30 MB hard drive available for all symbols and

Help Help • CD-ROM drive (for installation only) • CD-ROM drive (for installation only) • Optional: Macintosh compatible printer • Optional: Macintosh compatible printer • Optional: Internet browser • Optional: Internet browser • Optional: Microphone • Optional: Microphone

Software/Tools needed for Kidspiration Software/Tools needed for Kidspiration ( Continued…)( Continued…)

Windows RequirementsWindows Requirements

• • 486 processor or higher 486 processor or higher • Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT 4.0, ME or XP • Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT 4.0, ME or XP • 8 MB RAM • 8 MB RAM • 640x480 display, 256-color display • 640x480 display, 256-color display • Windows compatible graphics card • Windows compatible graphics card • 5 MB available hard drive minimum, • 5 MB available hard drive minimum, • 20 MB hard drive available for all symbols and Help • 20 MB hard drive available for all symbols and Help

• CD-ROM drive (for installation only) • CD-ROM drive (for installation only) • Optional: Windows compatible printer • Optional: Windows compatible printer • Optional: Internet browser • Optional: Internet browser • Optional: Soundcard and speakers • Optional: Soundcard and speakers

• • Optional: Microphone Optional: Microphone

Avaliability Avaliability You can order it online at any of the You can order it online at any of the

Kidspiration websites.Kidspiration websites.

The cost ranges fromThe cost ranges from

$50.00-$69.99.$50.00-$69.99. You can download a You can download a

free 30 day trial at anytime.free 30 day trial at anytime.

Website for Kidspiration Website for Kidspiration and Inspirationand Inspiration

http://www.inspiration.com/http://www.inspiration.com/productinfo/kidspiration/productinfo/kidspiration/index.cfmindex.cfm

Software Objective Software Objective StatementStatement

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

Kidspiration can help Kidspiration can help students/children…students/children…

Develop ideasDevelop ideas Organize thinkingOrganize thinking Gather informationGather information Making connections between data and Making connections between data and

visual representationsvisual representations Develop critical thinkingDevelop critical thinking Develop stronger cognitive skillsDevelop stronger cognitive skills Develop content knowledgeDevelop content knowledge Stimulate creative thinkingStimulate creative thinking

Kidspiration offers necessary tools Kidspiration offers necessary tools such as…such as…

Visual Learning-Visual Learning- Using graphs to work Using graphs to work with ideas and presenting information.with ideas and presenting information.

Visual learning can help students clarify Visual learning can help students clarify thoughts/ideas, organize and analyze thoughts/ideas, organize and analyze information, integrate new knowledge and information, integrate new knowledge and to think critically.to think critically.

Types of educational tools that Types of educational tools that Kidspiration provides...Kidspiration provides...

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

another.another.

WebsWebs

Used forUsed for:: BrainstormingBrainstorming

Organizing informationOrganizing information WritingWriting

PrewritingPrewriting AnalyzingAnalyzing

Types:Types: Literacy webs, Character webs, Literacy webs, Character webs, Comparison webs and Prewriting websComparison webs and Prewriting webs

Idea MapsIdea Maps

Idea MapsIdea Maps: Stimulates students to : Stimulates students to generate…generate…

Ideas follow through develop their Ideas follow through develop their ideas visuallyideas visually

Used for:Used for: Brainstorming, solving problems Brainstorming, solving problems and planning school work.and planning school work.

Example of an Idea MapExample of an Idea Map

Mind MapsMind Maps

Mind MapsMind Maps: Connect branches of related : Connect branches of related topics, ideas and subtopics. topics, ideas and subtopics.

It provides an overview of complex It provides an overview of complex information and finding new connections.information and finding new connections.

Used forUsed for: Brainstorming, taking notes and : Brainstorming, taking notes and planning tasks.planning tasks.

Example of a Mind MapExample of a Mind Map Mind Map: Mind Map:

Concept MapsConcept Maps Concept MapsConcept Maps: Links two or more concepts that : Links two or more concepts that

are linked by words and describes their are linked by words and describes their relationship.relationship.

Used ForUsed For: To reiterate ideas using students own : To reiterate ideas using students own ideas.ideas.

KidspirationKidspiration

Kidspiration can be used for all Kidspiration can be used for all subjects and can be integrated subjects and can be integrated into any classroom environment into any classroom environment or lesson plan.or lesson plan.

Students use symbols, pictures, Students use symbols, pictures, colors and keywords to create colors and keywords to create educational information.educational information.

Kidspiration ( Continued)Kidspiration ( Continued)

This software gives educators feedback on This software gives educators feedback on the information that students the information that students misunderstood.misunderstood.

Kidspiration has no violence. It only has Kidspiration has no violence. It only has fun, active and visual tools for students to fun, active and visual tools for students to use.use.

This software gives students a choice of This software gives students a choice of picking symbols and pictures using the picking symbols and pictures using the tool bar.tool bar.

Positive Aspects

Classroom Classroom CompatibilityCompatibility

Educational SupportEducational Support Teacher SupportTeacher Support Educational ValueEducational Value Technical QualityTechnical Quality

Some students may Some students may get confused with the get confused with the abundant amount of abundant amount of informationinformation

CostlyCostly

Negative Aspects

Final ThoughtFinal Thought

Excellent educational toolExcellent educational tool Easy directionsEasy directions Used and provided worldwideUsed and provided worldwide Can be integrated in all subjectsCan be integrated in all subjects

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

recommend itrecommend it

..

Without a Without a doubt………doubt………

YES!!!!!!!!YES!!!!!!!!