journal #6 Software Review

Behnaz Shahzadi


Inspiration /Kidspiration
My responses to the 3 questions:
1. I liked using Kidspiration as a visual learning tool to facilitate learning the concept of four seasons (Earth Science Standard) to my first grade students. I found this software very user friendly or very simple and fun to use. I know that children would be very excited to use Kidspiration as well. Furthermore, features like the icons on the screen are very obvious; Picture View makes it easy for children to see their ideas and information.
In addition, Talking Interface assists children to read new words. The libraries of symbols are set in categories and saving work is simple.
2. I will incorporate Kidspiration in my instruction as it will assist my students in the following ways:
• Brainstorm ideas with words and pictures
• Classify and organize information visually
• Create stories and make daily journals
• Concept mapping and how different ideas are related
3. I liked the tutorial video on Kidsiration at Atomic Learning web site. The video was short and very easy to follow. It showed a computer screen with an instructor indicating features of the software. This was accompanied by an arrow pointing to each segment the teacher was explaining. Atomic Learning is a website that provides online learning and technology training via short, easy-to-understand tutorials at anytime and anywhere. As a special education teacher, I would like to make Atomic Learning available to all my students. These tutorials are specifically very useful for students with special needs. As long as they can see the computer screen, or hear the commentary and operate the keyboard and mouse students can benefit from Atomic Learning. Another major benefit of the system is that any learner can replay any tutorial as often as necessary.
iMovies

1. I am very glad to be able to learn to make an iMovie project within 1-2 hours in the last class setting. I found the software to have a lot features that are easy to learn. For example, I made title, transitions, sound effects, music and ending for my 3o second movie, as well as I was able to edit my movie effortlessly.

2. Teachers can use iMovie to maximize students’ learning of many different subjects, including biology, math and science.
For example, educators can utilize this technology in teaching science theories to students by capturing steps of making hypothesis, designing an experiment and making observations. In addition, iMovies assist students in the process of revisiting, reviewing, and reflecting upon variety of concepts.