As many of you may already know, Inspiration® Software just released Inspiration® Maps™ on the iPad®, our visual thinking and outlining tool for brainstorming, note taking, and pre-writing. Inspiration Maps combines the intuitive touch interface of the iPad with our 20+ years of experience developing visual thinking and outlining tools that help students of all Read more »
Regardless of the class, course or grade level, taking notes in written form is the strategy most commonly used by students for learning information in school. Post note-taking, reviewing what was taught often involves highlighting key points or rewriting notes to organize and help retain the information. These strategies work for some students, but for Read more »
I recently returned from BETT* where I had the opportunity to speak with many dedicated educators and administrators who are constantly looking for ways to teach all students and help them be successful in school, work and life. One discussion stood out in my mind and I would like to discuss that topic with you Read more »
Many of you already have access to Inspiration®, Webspiration Classroom and Kidspiration® in your schools and are interested in using visual thinking and learning tools to help your students achieve academic success. Research and experts, like the Institute for the Advancement of Research in Education at AEL, state that visual tools, such as graphic organizers Read more »
With the 2011-2012 school year launch of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), educators and administrators have been hard at work to make sure their curriculum meets the requirements. Designed to fully prepare students with skills for college and the workplace, the Common Core State Standards, provides a clear framework of what a student should Read more »
Commonly referenced in curriculum of all grades, concept learning is valuable and necessary in a student’s education and growth. However, no matter how often the teaching of concepts may be emphasized by the educator, concept-centered curriculum is often a challenge for students to learn. A common challenge for teachers is that while students may retain Read more »
We all know how important math is in a young learner’s education. We also know how difficult it can be to teach basic math skills; it’s such a complex subject and challenging to find new ways to ingrain the concepts and proper understanding in students. They often become consumed with finding the correct answer and Read more »
Since the release of the Common Core State Standards in June 2010, states across the country are recognizing how the outlined requirements of this initiative support high-quality education standards and are adopting them as their own. Developed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Common Core State Standards Read more »
Scientific studies support many different ways of working with students to enhance learning. In one recent study that was published in Science Magazine, Louis Deslauriers and his colleagues found that learning focused around problem solving, discussion and group work had a higher level of engagement and more than twice the learning and comprehension compared to Read more »
Constructivist theory or constructivism is a learning model that empowers students to learn through their own classroom-guided experiences and reflect upon those experiences. Let’s talk more about this learning model today, and how visual thinking and learning tools can support this type of learning.
