Inspirational Concepts

Inspiration...we all seem to want it, but are not really sure how or even when to know that we have it. Yet, now we have a great technological tool to aid us in communicating our own ideas, and fortuitously it is also appropriately named for what it often gives us: Inspiration.

The idea of "concept mapping" has been around for many years. Indeed, I have been using it with my classes going back even prior to the beginning of the Inspiration software company. Such great innovators as Bill Hammond, Bob Samples, Nancy Margulies, and Joyce Wycoff have contributed much to this idea of "doodling with a purpose". This process has gone by many terms including semantic mapping, mindmapping, concept mapping, and webbing. Integrating the artistic and visual-spatial components into the learning and concept development process is especially effective for some learners. I will outline just a few of its uses below:

The Inspiration software can be used for:
1. Linear visual representations--outlines, flow charts. It is especially helpful in translating linear concepts from a written outline into a visual format and back. Through the flow chart tools, it also is very well suited for writing procedures and processes in science. I have used it extensively in both of these formats to help students develop skills in outlining/note taking/summarizing as well as creating visual representations of their detailed procedures for science experiments.

2. Semantic webbing--connecting ideas with words and concepts--the so-called "concept mapping", as well as diagramming sentences and illustrating relationships visually between various concepts. I used to provide a significant tutorial on Inspiration to my students called "Making Connections". I would often give them a topic/concept and a rubric of terms, definitions, or linking ideas, and ask them to create a map showing the inter-connectedness of all of these ideas. I also encouraged them to share their maps with the class, work on them cooperatively, and to include their own pictures and ideas that will help them to remember the connections between the concepts. This is especially effective for learners and concepts that are more visual in nature. "A picture is worth a thousand words here."

3. Summarization--within a single page, analysis and synthesis (Higher levels of Bloom's taxonomy), notepads/data streamed organization. As students work on either individual or group discussions or data collection, Inspiration can be used to provide a summary of the notes for the class to remember and then saved to one location for all to access. This is especially effective when you limit what students may put onto their concept maps. Then, they are forced to only include the most important information, images, or video that will help them remember the concepts and its relationships.

The article "Beyond Powerpoint" also points out some specific uses:

1. "Store Front"--click on each and get sound/graphics, etc. This technique is useful in presentations for the class either by the teacher or students. This can be similar to a home page for a website.

2. Gradual Reveal--incremental content--process, timelines, problem solving. Teacher or student directed, this type of use is helpful when content or problems have multiple steps or connections. A Smart board is also a very useful tool for this technique.

3. "Notepads" feature--develop as class progresses--add content, data, etc. to share conclusions of an inquiry process. This works where mixed media are often helpful or needed to explain a topic. Having a set of images available to place into Inspiration is helpful as well as some pre-designed content ideas. Then, as students generate data/information, the appropriate visual or written content can be added and notes given from the class live. Again, a Smart board along with Inspiration can work quite well here.

4. Hyperlinking--Site maps, parts linked to main map, subtopics need development, sequential organizer of content and information. This is useful as a type of "site map" for organizing content that has depth through URL addresses. Providing additional web pages or sites that can be quickly accessed through the visual icons on Inspiration can help to explain complex structures in more detail for some learners. For example, a cell image with terms mapped via Inspiration where each term is linked to a web page of additional information, images, and videos to explain the function or purpose of each cell organelle or structure in more detail.

Ultimately, the greatest benefit comes from having students use Inspiration where it works best--as a tool for visually connecting content. In science, many processes are cycles or connected to other processes: Rock cycle, water cycle, ecosystems, atomic structure, matter and energy, nitrogen cycle, air cycle, and many others. Providing students with a structured rubric in which they can create their own versions of these will be a great tool for their increased understanding. In this way, they truly will be more "inspired."