Using Inspiration 6'0 to Enhance Student Thinking Skills

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Using Inspiration 6.0 to Enhance Student Thinking
Skills

• A presentation to fellow educators
• Holly Shannon,
• Clarkston Community Schools

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Promising Information

• ...technology applications can support
  higher-order thinking by engaging students in
  authentic, complex tasks within collaborative
  learning contexts" (1)
• Positive effects on achievement

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More Promising Information

• Students feel more successful in school and were
  more motivated to learn
• Increased student self-confidence (3)

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Pitfalls of Technology

• Are we dumbing down our children by poor use of
  technology?
• Motivation versus Hands-On Experience
  (2)

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Educational Need

• How Can We Effectively Integrate Technology at
  Clarkston Elementary?

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Target Inspiration

• Emphasize the ability to access, interpret, and
  synthesize information instead of rote
  memorization and the acquisition of isolated
  skills.

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Target Inspiration continued

• Graphical ways of working with ideas and
  presenting information teach students to think
  clearly, and to process, organize and prioritize
  new information.

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Target Inspiration continued

• Visual diagrams reveal patterns,
  interrelationships and interdependencies. (Stuart
  Little)
• They also stimulate creative thinking.
• Visual learning will inspire students to develop
  ideas and organize thinking.

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Ideas for YOUR Classroom

• Language Arts
• Outlining
• Concept Mapping
• Templates
• Science
• Social Studies
• Other?

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The Plan

• 2 hour in-service (Inspiration 6.0)
• Each teacher submits at least one sample by
  January
• Publish samples in portfolio to be kept in
  computer lab
• EXHALE!

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Timeline

• September/October
• In-service training
• Get your feet wet
• November/December
• Submit a piece using Inspiration
• Reflect on this experience
• January - March
• Continue submitting
• Complete survey about experiences and requests
  for the future
• June-July
• Plan for next technology step

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Suggestions for Our Situation

• Immediate Reactions
• See me or Sandy individually for more
  communication
• has4iu_at_hotmail.com

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Resources

• 1. Critical Issue Using Technology to Improve
  Student Achievement http//www.ncrel.org/sdrs/ar
  eas/issues/methods/technlgy/te800.htm
• 2. The Computer Delusion by Todd Oppenheimer
  http//www.theatlantic.com/issues/97jul/computer.h
  tm
• 3. The Effectiveness of Technology in Schools
  A Review of Research Findings 1999
  http//www.siia.net/

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Thank you!

• Lets continue to grow together!