Journal 9

"Kidspiration" Software review, Atomic Learning tutorial review, and the Assignment



















Kidspiration Software is a K-5 learning software program by Inspiration Software, Inc. The templates included in the package range from simple to complex and are designed for different subject areas - reading, writing, social studies, science, and math. Simple templates, (as seen in my example), allow students to display a few, short details on one page, whereas a complex template allows for more sophisticated outlining and organizing topics, sub-topics, and supportive details as one would use in writing an essay or story. Students can draw or fill in linear or non-linear diagrams, using the templates provided or ones designed by the teacher. With respect to uses in liberal arts, it is designed to develop critical thinking, strengthen word recognition, and build comprehension, and written expression. For math, it provides visual math tools, builds reasoning and problem solving skills, as well as conceptual understanding. Although it mainly uses visual tools, the software is also geared to other learning styles - kinesthetic learners, as it requires the use of a mouse and keyboard, and auditory, if the software is set up to speak the text for learners with this need. Besides outlining essays and stories, and organizing life cycles, food chains, and family trees, Kidspiration software also provides fun and educational activities for the different subject areas mentioned previously.

Atomic Learning tutorial

Using the Atomic Learning tutorial to understand how to use Kidspiration software made learning fun and easy. Even without sound (my speakers are shot), I was able to quickly figure out how to put a diagram together. The Kidspiration software itself is designed to be fun and easy for use by younger learners, which made the task even easier, but I was definitely encouraged and more confident after watching the tutorial and would definitely use Atomic Learning tutorials for other software in the future.

The Assignment

In the example above, I have created an artifact as a 3rd grade student would, using Kidspiration, as if he/she were summarizing or assessing information learned during Red Ribbon Week at school. It was easy to change the ribbons around if I wanted to put them in another spot, simple to change the verbiage, and fun to have all the different choices of templates, pictures, and other visual tools with which to teach, learn, and play!