So, I not to thrilled with my choice of topic for my Inspiration thought graph. It is kind of dull and I doubt I will us it. Don't get me wrong. The tool or application itself is pretty cool. I just wish I would of given myself more time to work on a more useful subject. I was thinking about using Inspiration to show soil types and classifications. Then from each different type have the different characteristic that make up the different types of soils and the different mixtures. Time (and holiday company) was not on my side. I don't think I did a bad job on the current chart that I turned in. I just think that I'm just "over it" for now and it really wasn't up to my creative standards. I do however realize that the point of the class is to understand these sites/tool/applications so that we can use them later for creating education artifacts. Lesson learned. I will probably make my soil chart before my free trial runs out, though.
On a side note, I feel that I have been slacking a little in the blog posting department. I'm thinking about how many times in previous classes that I didn't feel that I was able to express my knowledge or situation or life in general to my professors so that the understand where I am or coming from. It donned on me that "this is the tool to do that with and this is my opportunity". Plus it really is a little cathartic, just barfing out what ever you feel (well, within reason).
I suppose "barfing out" is a form of reflection. :-)
ReplyDeleteI am actually more interested in your thoughts on visual learning in general. You may not have access to Inspiration software on the campus on which you teach. There is a free, web-based version, called Webspiration, but that could be blocked as well. Still, can you imagine potential uses for visualization tools in the elementary classroom? In the best of all worlds, can you see elementary children using a tool like Inspiration to create their own "education artifacts"? Based on your experience creating your own diagram, how would you facilitate that kind of learning for young people?
Case in point: I personally would not spend time creating a diagram about soil. I would wait to introduce the concept in a unit of instruction, and then see what the kids produce. If you asked them to diagram the different mixtures, what would they come up with? And would you have the expertise and know-how to scaffold them toward creation of a visual to document their learning?