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Teacher Education Requirements
Instructional Technology Passport System (ITPS)
ITPS E. Idea Development and Presentation Software Resources
Idea Development
Kidspiration™ and Inspiration® are two creations from Inspiration Software that allow students and teachers to organize thoughts and represent ideas using both diagrammatic and outline approaches. Kidspiration™ inspires students in grades K-5 to see, organize, and develop their ideas. Inspiration® is used by grades 6 through adult to brainstorm, plan, organize, outline, diagram, and write. Either of these programs (or similar programs such as OmniGraffle 2) may be used to demonstrate ITPS Competency E.
You may download a free, 30-day trial program files for both Kidspiration and Inspiration from the Inspiration Web site.
Both Kidspiration™ and Inspiration® are extremely user-friendly. Both come with extensive tool sets, templates and outlining features, and allow for audio integration and HTML creation. Both programs have Quick Start Tutorials that can have you using even the most powerful features of the programs and working proficiently within 45 minutes. Tutorials may be downloaded as PDF's at the company's Web site.
The following links will take you to off-site resources to help you learn more about how teachers and students can use Inspiration software to develop their ideas.
- Internet4Classrooms has some great examples of how some teachers have used Inspiration software.
- Get Inspiration tutorials to teach visual organization and to incorporate it into your teaching.
Presentation Software Links
The following links will take you to off-site resources to help you learn more about making presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint.
- Get Microsoft's features tips and tricks, "how to" articles, books about using PowerPoint, and other useful information.
- This Microsoft site offers educators downloadable documents to master PowerPoint 97.
- Get answers to frequently asked questions about PowerPoint.
- Get tips, tricks, and tutorials at About.com.
- Internet4Classrooms offers not only has great tutorials but also has some excellent examples of presentations you can download to get ideas.