Module 3 Reflections

Module 3 Reflection:

New cool tool: Inspiration mapping/outlining software.

This week’s focus was on concept mapping, something I haven’t had much experience with prior to this course. I had thought of it as brainstorming and heard students refer to it as “webbing,” and I hadn’t actually thought that it would be valuable for me. But I found that I was wrong, particularly after trying Inspiration software. What a great tool. To recap my initial thoughts about how I can use it:

1. Study tool for students at the end of a unit. It would be a visual method of review and would help them identify gaps in understanding.

2. As a first step toward student collaboration, students could individually prepare a concept map, then combine efforts in small groups to compare perceptions and form a collective map. This idea came to me when reading the Naidu/Blanchard article, which pointed out that “one person’s focal concept may not be his/her, or another person’s focal concept in another map of the same material.” Such variations could add richness to the consideration of a concept.

3. As an initial activity in Multicultural Literature, I could ask students to form a concept map for each ethnic group represented, noting and linking things they know or think they know about each. The maps could be used for a number of activities, including discussion of stereotypes. After reading selections by writers of each ethnic group, students could either revise their initial maps or create new maps as a method of showing new learning.

Additionally, I tried using Inspiration for outlining a course that I’m working to improve. First I mapped it, then I transferred the map to an outline. It was really an effective way to develop a snapshot of the units I want; then I started gradually developing objectives, content and assessments for each. I plan to buy a license for this software.