What is Kidspiration? Kidspiration is a software program designed for children to learn visually through the implementation of graphic organizers, diagrams and outlines that will help them organize information they need to research and complete projects more easily.

     Target Age

• Kidspiration is designed specifically for children in grades kindergarten through the fifth grade. It works with existing curriculum demands to improve mastery of learning concepts.

  Goals

• Kidspiration seeks to help children develop stronger thinking skills, improve reading and writing skills and strengthen math understanding of concepts. It does so in an innovative entertaining way.

  Picture View

• This format within Kidspiration uses graphics to help children organize a variety of concepts. Conceptual understanding improves with maps, webs and diagrams.

  Math View

• This format within Kidspiration works with math concepts visually. By using this layout, children gain an organic understanding of math concepts.

  Writing View

• Designed to help children get past the blank page, Writing View takes children from a concept through a written idea. It walks them through age-appropriate exercises to help them build communication skills.

Kidspiration Demo Video: http://www.kidspiration.com/Videos/Kidspiration

14 Steps for using Kidspiration: 

• Step 1: Start Kidspiration.
•  Step 2: Use Kidspiration diagram view to make a concept map or diagram that helps show idea relationships. Click diagram to start a new diagram. Put the main concept in the larger box, and add all of the connected ideas in the smaller boxes.
•  Step 3: Link a symbol by clicking on the create tool. This will add a link where you can add a linked idea. Click in the middle of the symbol to add a new idea. Click on the arts tab (which looks like a tiny painting palette) to browse symbols in the tools library. Drag symbols to move them and customize your toolbar. Symbols are arranged by topic such as birds, sea creatures, plants, music, art and drama.
• Step 4: Click on rapid fire to add ideas quickly without having to add symbols. After you have added your text, just hit enter and another linked symbol will appear. You can also just point to a spot and start typing. This will make a new symbol wherever you type.
• Step 5:Create an outline to organize ideas. When reading text or comparing cause-and-effect or problem/solution relationships, it might be helpful to create an outline. When using Kidspiration, creating an outline is easy because main idea, topic and subtopic are already laid out. Students simply need to add their ideas. When in outline view, click on diagram to return to diagram view.
• Step 6: Perform a keyword search to find a concept or symbol if you prefer not to browse. According to the inspiration guide, kids can put the keyword into the symbol palette to look through the libraries in the built-in and online collections. Insert the symbol, and then add text in the text box below the symbol.
• Step 7: Insert video into a diagram by clicking on the diagram where you want the video file to go. Then go to tools and click Insert Video or Sound and select the Video option. You will be able to see the beginning graphic of the video. Click on this graphic to play the video.
• Step 8: Add sound by pointing to the area you want to add the sound, such as a graphic or symbol. Go to tools and then click Insert Video or Sound, and click select sound file. To play back your selected sound, just click on Audio Quick Control.
• Step 9: Add a hyperlink by clicking on hyperlink in the toolbar and putting in pasting or typing your link into the link to or hypertext link box. You can put in a web page, email, new document or link to another Kidspiration web page.
• Step 10: Click on the word guide to find synonyms, definitions, related nouns/verbs and phrases. Insert the word into a symbol by clicking on the symbol first, then clicking the word guide, searching your word, picking from the list and clicking insert.
• Step 11: Transfer information to a word processing document by clicking on what you want transferred such as topics, subtopics, etc. This will transfer the information into Microsoft Word or Apple Works in outline form.
• Step 12: Customize background colors by clicking on Effect and then Background Color. Print documents by going to file and then print.
• Step 13: Save a file on which you are working, click on File (the file icon) and then Save. To exit out of inspiration, just click File and then Quit. Save your files by clicking yes when you exit.
• Step 14: Use Kidspiration in the classroom to help kids create creative projects and outlines where their ideas are cohesive and understandable.

Sources:

(2008, March 14). Kidspiration and Inspiration Lesson Plan Ideas. Retrieved from http://www.picadome.fcps.net/lab/teacherl/lesson_plans/kidspiration/kidspiration_ideas.htm

(2009). Kidspiration videos and webcasts. Retrieved from http://www.kidspiration.com/Videos/Kidspiration

Knox, P, & Silverman, S. (2002). Kidspired Tales 2002. Retrieved from http://www.northcanton.sparcc.org/~ptk1nc/kidspired2002/

(n.d.). How to Use Kidspiration. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how_5121655_use-kidspiration.html

Vincent, K. (n.d.). What Is Kidspiration?. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/facts_5010055_what-is-kidspiration.html