Have you ever noticed that technology has introduced all kinds of new words to our vocabulary? We “text” messages and send “mail” that doesn’t always involve a stamp. The “net” has nothing to do with tennis. Many of us “blog”, and when we want to learn more about something we “Google” it.
When I “Google” or do any kind of Web search for Inspiration Software, Inspiration, Kidspiration or InspireData, I always find amazing workshops and other activities where you are all sharing how you use visual learning with your students. Plus, I find workshops at colleges and universities, as well as school districts, that focus on the ways that visual learning can be used to support instruction.
On a quick visit to TeacherTube (the new “YouTube” of the education world) the other day, I found a number of videos of teachers demonstrating how to use graphic organizers with students, including one on using Inspiration to teach math concepts and several videos on using Kidspiration for technology and literacy integration as well. As always, I am impressed by how you use our software with your students and awed by your willingness to share your ideas and expertise with the larger education community.
We want to support you in your efforts to evangelize the use of visual learning in the classroom, so we have a number of free resources available on our Web site that you can use in training sessions and workshops. Visit the Educator Resources area and you will find basic scripts that explore visual learning and walk through the features in our software, as well as multimedia demos, lesson plan samples, case studies and links to Inspired Sites developed by educators that incorporate visual learning into the curriculum. Some of these sites offer lesson plans and templates that your colleagues around the country have generously offered to share.
And, of course, you will find great resources with the increasing number of lesson plans and ideas available here in the Inspired Learning Community. Every day the site grows as you add lesson plans, templates and other teaching tools. I bet you will find valuable ideas to use with your students and will also be inspired to share some of your creative lesson plans with your fellow community members.
Plus, please remember to let us hear from you! Post your comments or questions in the Forum or respond to my blog postings or send me an email. This is your Inspired Learning Community. We want to work with you to help it grow and offer the support you need to support your creative use of visual learning.