How to Use Inspiration 9 to Inspire Students to Write

1. How to Use Inspiration 9 to Inspire Students to Write By Linda Tillinghast

2. Key Questions • Why do students need to be able to write well? • What constitutes a “well written” piece, be it narrative or non-fiction? • How do teachers tap into students’ current interests and abilities to propel their writing processes?

3. Project Outline • Teachers will be able to view videos of the computer aided instructional software known as Inspiration version 9 • Each tutorial will show various aspects of the program • Following completion of the tutorials, each teacher will prepare a writing activity using Inspiration 9 appropriate for her grade/class.

4. Your Resources • Each teacher will have access to a computer with Inspiration 9 installed on it • In addition, each teacher will have access to Microsoft Office Suite which contains Word and Power Point • Finally, each teacher will have access to Microsoft Movie Maker and access to my Drop Box

5. Work Schedule & Expected Learner Outcomes • We will work together throughout the month of June during Professional Development time (six half hour sessions) • By the end of our time, you will have • Learned how to use the web/tree tool • Learned how to use the mind map tool • Learned how to use the outline tool • Learned how to use the rapid fire tool • Learned how to export your web/tree/map to word processor • Learned how to export to presentation tool

6. Actual Work Sessions = 6 (at individual pace) June 2012 (Every Tues. & Thur.)

7. Culminating Project & Our PLC • Each teacher will create either: • A video of herself using/demonstrating Inspiration for use as a class lesson • Or • A video of her class using Inspiration in the Computer Lab to develop writing on any subject or topic. This video will assume students received teacher instruction prior to their assignment. • The following rubric will be used to assess learner outcomes, in this case, teacher outcomes. • The video should be submitted to my Drop Box by June 22, 2012, the last day of school, in order for MLP credit to be earned. • Finally, I will post all of our projects on my Wiki (ltillinghast.wikispaces.com) for your viewing right after I receive them! Enjoy!

8. Rubric

9. My Roles & Possible Pitfalls • Roles • Facilitator • Lead Learner • Resource Provider • Pitfalls • Technology occasionally doesn’t work • People are not equally motivated • People have different skill sets and mind sets