Inspiration

I think Inspiration is a great tool for brain storming. If the student is proficient with the program then the student will save time and get the assignment done faster. The outline tool would really help with writing papers and organizing ideas. The one problem that might occur in a few students is the ability to use the program. They might not understand it well enough to get their ideas typed into the program fast enough. Thus not getting everything they need written down and handing in a paper that they could have done better on. When working with math students, some people have trouble just because they are scared of the material. This may be the case with this program. I would use Inspiration in a class room to help learn the thought patterns of the students. In math there is a step-by-step approach to most problems and if the students are going in a different direction then they should be, I think that would help point it out. Then I could adjust the way I was teaching to help the students understand the material better.

I think Inspiration would really help out in research papers. At first a student could think of all that he/she wanted to write about. Then after doing research and learning more could add to their brainstorm. After they were finished with that, then use the outline to help write the paper. One idea for peer feedback is to have other students proof-read papers. Then to incorporate technology, have the students proof-read the Inspiration program. From the brainstorm to the outline. This would help the proof-reader follow the paper better.

Kevin Tanton