Monday, November 16, 2009
Organizing Ideas
For those of us worried about how to teach writing traits such as ideas, voice, or organization here is a great program that will help in the classroom. The program is called Kidspiration, a visual learning tool that includes options allowing students to build graphic organizers, such as concept maps, mind maps, idea maps, and diagrams. Has anyone ever used this software before, would you recommend it if you have? The video focuses on the program's ability to help kids with organizing their ideas by allowing them to manipulate pictures and create a written and visual story. For those of us heading towards middle school and high school, do you think the simplicity of this program could help teachers reinforce the concept of voice and help students with self-expression?
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This is the first time I have heard of Kidspiration. I think it is a great resource. As we discussed in my blog, technology is definitely developing and becoming a major part of everyday life using it in education is pretty much a must. This program supports the use of technology with learning. Although I think it is very interactive and beneficial because it uses pictures and computer as a resource to help children organize their ideas. I also feel children can take this same idea without using a computer program. For example, a teacher can have children cut out pictures from a magazine or book and paste them in boxes that are labeled, setting, characters, beginning, middle, and end. They can also label pictures with personal names or ideas. I believe this more hands on way of teaching would be better for child development physically and cognitively. I think this program would be great for older kids because they love to use computers and if it encourages writing and helps them organize ideas, then why not make use of it. Using technology in the classroom is important, but traditional ways are also very important!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great way to help students organize their thoughts and ideas. In my tutoring experience, I have notice that students all really enjoy any type of art that is included in their writing. Having art as a tool to make sense of what they are planning to write will most likely have a positive affect. Students will be more inclined to get excited about writing instead of seeing it as a tedious work. In addition to this, it seems to incorporate and assist visual learners. Students now can see pictures of what they want to write about. Seeing pictures will allow students to remember their plot more clearly. Having a clear plot allows the students to create a writing that a reader can follow and understand.
ReplyDeletelove the title of this program: Kidspiration. When I first heard of this, I automatically liked it. Then, once the narrator was describing this program I really liked it! All students, especially beginning writers in younger grades have trouble with organizing their thoughts for a story. This program is great because it helps students organize their thoughts visually then transports their visuals into writing. This way, nothing in their story is missing, all the student has to do is fill in the spots with real sentences.
ReplyDeleteThis program gives students a process to follow when writing. It gets their ideas into actions by connecting their ideas on the computer. This program is also great because it connects students with technology. I think this program would be especially helpful to younger students, but I am not sure about older students in middle or high school. I would love to see how this actually works in schools and if teachers use this in their classroom.
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ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this program before, but it looks like a useful resource and tool for helping children visualize the different aspects of writing. We always talk about incorporating technology into the classroom and I think this would be a good software program to introduce to younger students. This program not only will give children a visual aspect of writing, but also looks like it would be a fun exciting way to get them interested in writing. It will teach them how to organize their thoughts and focuses on addressing the higher order concerns of content using the visual aspect of pictures. This is definitely a program I would use in my classroom when teaching writing. I think it will engage students and get them motivated to write because it gets them out of the normal setting of sitting at their desk, writing with a pencil and paper.
ReplyDeleteWow, this could really help students with learning about voice and expression, and is a great resource for helping them organize their ideas. I think that like Jenica said, technology is becoming a HUGE part of the classroom and the educational system in general. I think that it is important that we as teachers prepare the students for using technology as they grow into adults. It is an integral part of society, and as much as teachers want to stick to traditional methods of teaching, it is still vital that we incorporate technology into our classroom. Whether it be through programs such as Kidspiration, using a blog site for the classroom, or even teaching students how to do research on the computer are important aspects of education. I think that there are a lot of interesting ways to incorporate both traditional and contemporary teaching methods, such as having the children reading a non-fiction biography book and then using a computer to research the person that they have read about. I think we should always keep learning fresh and updated for students, so that they continue to become lifelong learners
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great program for beginning writers. It really shows students how to organize their story. It is so true how students always say "oh i forgot this part, oh and then." It also uses technology which is great. This could be a great tool to then help them lead into learning about powerpoints and blogs after. But I am not sure that this program would be so great for high school students or even upper elementary. It seems very primary.
ReplyDeleteThis would be a WONDERFUL program for beginning writers. It is perfectly simple for young children who are learning to write stories rather than just single sentences. It is something that helps beginning writers draw out their thoughts the way they are in their heads, because most beginning writers don't usually think out the entire story in complete words and sentences in their head. Beginners usually have a picture or "video-like" idea in their heads and with this program, they are able to see that on the page before creating the final product. I think that it wouldn't be as successful for average level writers in middle or high school because it might be too simple for the students. I think students would find it a bit childish even though it is a brilliant way to plan out ideas.
ReplyDeleteSo I have never heard of Kidspiration. This is so awesome. I think that his simple activity will help kids tremendously with expressing their words in writing. I am tutoring second graders right now and they know what they want to say, but just cannot put it on paper. By using Kispiration I know that I can help them figure out their ideas in the story they want to tell, and then be able to put it into an exciting story! As teachers, we need to embrace the different types of learners we are going to have in our classrooms. This picture idea will truly help the visual learners who cannot grasp the concept as well the first time they hear it. As far as using this for middle school and high school. I think it might also be fun. Maybe a little to young for them, but it can help them figure out if they still had voice in their writing and if not, how to incorporate it.
ReplyDeleteKidspiration seems like a great program to help young, developing writers. I have never heard of a program like this, but it made me think of the student I am tutoring currently in writing. As the video commented, students often write “and then, and then” to discuss everything they wish to write about. I have recently taught my student to never start a sentence with and, and to use commas instead of and while writing a list. He now recognizes this, but does have trouble organizing the structure of his writing. I have taught him how to use thinking maps, but this program would be very helpful for him. One of the benefits I see automatically from the program is that it provides a visual or graphophonic cue to help those students who are visual learners. In addition, the program is interactive; the student is organizing the writing with visuals and in steps, which helps developing writers learn organization. The only negative part of this program is if students begin to rely on the program to organize their writing, or if teachers only have students use this program. The program should only be used a few times for beginning writers and writers who need improvement in organizing their writing. I do not know if this program would help students with voice, rather I feel this program focuses on organization within writing. However, once a writer understands organization in writing, than the writer can begin to focus on voice more.
ReplyDeleteWow! I really like this program for brainstorming ideas. I want my future students to utilize different brainstorming activities to make writing fun and be able to organize their thoughts. I also think that even though it is a simply program middle school and high school students could benefit from using this software if they are visual learners. It really doesn't matter how old they are; it’s about learning how to organize their thoughts. To be honest I would use this program for myself to maybe help with certain projects. I like what Stephenette said in class about displaying the program on the smart boards and demonstrate brainstorming with the classroom. It’s all about exploring different options and if the students are not receptive to the program then at least they tried it. Since we’re moving to a technological society, students need to know what digital brainstorming activities are available to them and are beneficial.
ReplyDeleteI could tell by the name of the program that it was going to be interesting. I believe that this program can be very helpful for younger students to organize their thoughts before writing. Kidspiration sets itself apart from other methods of brainstorming and organizing. It serves as a different model for students, and may work for those who have a more difficult time with other methods. Now they aren't limited to the traditional ways of webbing, flow charts, making lists, etc. I have noticed that the younger generations are more visually oriented and respond better to graphics. It is also a great way to involve technology! That will be very beneficial for students as technology is a great part of our lives, and it is only going to continue to change. Although it looks like it would be geared towards younger students, I'm sure it can be helpful for students of any grade level. I think this program could help reinforce voice as well as aid in self-epression because it makes steps in the writing process much easier.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great video!!! This would be great to use with younger kids to help them with their writing.I also see this as a good blend of using technology with your students. It is so important to incorporate technology with learning these days. I believe that this program would helo anyone with problems they may be having with the writing process. I have never used anything like this but as a future teacher I would be very open to trying it espically for students who are struggling. I also think that if you were to make similar programs for say high school aged students that it would also be helpful for them.
ReplyDeleteBY: WILLIAM BURNS