Integrating Inspiration into the primary classroom setting:
- Where could this application be used?
Inspiration could be used in a Science unit to examine the water cycle.
- How could this application be integrated?
Students could work individually or in groups to create a concept map of the water cycle in Inspiration. Students can use the features of the program to link the concept map to relevant websites, images and experiments for a project.
- What would students learn?
Students would learn that mind tools like Inspiration can be an excellent way to create a visual map of ideas and enable them to link concepts. Students would learn that information can be organised as a tree diagram, concept map or mind map.
- Why should this application be used?
Inspiration can be used to assist students to organise and clarify their thinking in a creative and visual way.
- Which key learning theory could be addressed?
The creation of an Inspiration concept map as an integrated step in a Science project addresses Scaffolding theory (Vygotsky). The technology scaffolds and supports the learner to identify relationships, concepts and organise their information for the science project.
This is an Inspiration concept map created for the Main Food Groups:
(Please click on the image to see a full screen version)
Note - in Inspiration " make your own yogurt " would link to a website with instructions
