Content

This course consists of five modules of various length.

Course Outline:

1. Scaffolding, Graphic Organizers and Concept-Mapping: Getting the Big Idea
   An introduction to the methods and benefits of structuring information visually.
2. Introduction to Inspiration® and Kidspiration^TM Software: Two Electronic Graphic Organizers
   You will read articles about Inspiration® software and look at examples of graphic organizers created with Inspiration®.
3. Step-By-Step: The Nuts and Bolts of Using Inspiration® and Kidspiration^TM Software
   You will complete a tutorial on the basics of Inspiration® or Kidspiration^TM and create your own concept map using your choice of either Kidspiration^TM or Inspiration®.
4. Effective Use of Inspiration® and Kidspiration^TM in the Classroom
   You will look at best practices for using Inspiration® and Kidspiration^TM, and identify issues and strategies related to integrating Inspiration or Kidspiration^TMin your classroom. .
5. Putting It All Together: Developing Your Inspiration® or Kidspiration^TM Project
   You will create your final graphic organizer project to support a unit that you teach.

Goal
By the end of the course each participant will create a series of lesson activities incorporating graphic organizers using Inspiration® or Kidspiration^TM software. The organizers will be integrated with your classroom curriculum. Each course module is structured around an Introduction, Readings, Activities, Activity Checklist, and Discussion Board.

Participation
Participants will:

• exchange ideas with other participants and participate in a course discussion board;
• review and discuss online background reading materials;
• develop a series of graphic organizers with Inspiration® or Kidspiration^TM software.

You will be able to customize activities to your specific teaching or training responsibilities and needs.

Collaboration
During each activity, you are encouraged to share your discoveries and successes with other course participants and collaborate during team problem solving. Participants may share drafts of works-in-progress for peer feedback and discuss ideas and suggestions before submitting the final project.

This may be your favorite part of the course. You will find creative ways to develop lively and fun group process skills as well as outstanding projects.

Since our diverse groups are usually in many different time zones feel free to use the following aids to determine what time it is in your classmates' countries and/or cities. This will help when communicating with your learning partner during collaborative projects.

The World Clock - Time Zones
WORLDTIME
The Time Zones for PCs (free download)

Discussion Board
Perhaps the most vital use of the discussion board is the exchange of ideas that can occur among participants. You will be asked to complete a minimum of two postings per week; these may be reactions to readings, discussing the topic/issue of the week, sharing information and resources with classmates, or responding to a problem posted by peers or your facilitator. To receive full credit, you should post a minimum of two messages per week. Most people find this very easy to accomplish.

You will receive a list of participants' e-mail addresses at the beginning of the class. You are encouraged to communicate with each other frequently and freely.

Discussion Board Participation Guidelines and Evaluation

A component of your grade will be based on active participation demonstrating critical thinking.

Your grade for discussion board participation will be based on both frequency and quality of your contributions during our discussions.

Quality participation is considered as thoughtful and concise contribution that demonstrates critical thinking, moving discussions forward as related to the course material.

Contributions of low quality or those that are long-winded paragraphs of excerpts from course materials or other sources will not result in an exemplary discussion grade. Comments such as "I agree" or "Yes/No" or “Thanks for the feedback” will not count toward the frequency of your participation.

The instructor will monitor both the amount of time, quality, number and frequency of both read and written discussion responses on the discussion board and analyze class postings based on the class discussion rubric.

Self-Reflection
At the conclusion of selected modules you will write a concise (250-300 word) reflection that responds to questions such as:

• What was the most valuable thing you learned in this module?
• How will you implement this in your teaching or training?
• In what area(s) do you feel you need more information or practice to feel comfortable using graphic organizers?
• How can you use your new skills to benefit your school? district?

Online Attendance
In an online course, you are not required to attend at a particular location or time of day.

This course is designed as an interactive course in which you contribute and respond to the discussion postings of other students. Plan to log in and participate in the course discussion at least 2 times each week. Your instructor has access to a login summary including the date of each entry you make to the discussion board or dropbox—this includes a response to an assignment, a posting on the threaded discussion, submission of an assignment, or participation in group work.

If your professional/personal obligations or illness require you to be absent for more than 3 days, please contact me and arrange how you will make up the work.

Please do not "drop out" for a period of time and then expect to "drop back in" without losing points. This makes it difficult for your colleagues to complete their assignments if feedback is required.

Evaluation
Your grade will be based on:

50% - Satisfactory execution of module activities

20% - Final Project

15% - Online Discussion (postings to discussion board)

15% - Self-reflection

Your final project graphic organizer lesson activities will be evaluated on your demonstration of standards listed on the provided rubric or checklist.

A -- Exceeds the standard

B -- Proficient demonstration of the standard

I -- Incomplete demonstration of the standard (Work must be resubmitted.)

Evaluation of your discussion board participation is cumulative and subjective based on notes that the instructor records each week. E-mail your instructor for help in upgrading your participation in the discussion board discussion.

Excellent indicates you participated above the minimum level in both quantity and clarity of communication in your discussion board postings.

Average indicates you met the minimum requirement.

Below average indicates you consistently contributed below the minimum two messages per week or contributions were merely perfunctory ("I agree with so and so.") or unclear.

Reflections will be evaluated for clarity and your understanding of the course readings and activities.

Any time that you want to ask about your progress, send a message directly to your instructor.

Resources Needed
Reading materials will be included either as e-mail or references to materials on the WWW.

Required Software. Inspiration 7.6 or 8.0 OR Kidspiration 2.0, 2.1 or 3.0

Questionnaire
Tell your facilitator about yourself and your goals for the class by completing this short questionnaire.

Orientation Activities
After you are enrolled, review the orientation activities, Student Expectations and Responsibilities and Academic Expectations and Dishonesty Policy .