Inspiration Software

Inspiration Software, Inc. develops and publishes visual learning and thinking software for educators, students and business professionals.

History

Inspiration Software was founded in 1982 by Donald Helfgott and Mona Westhaver and was originally focused on business software products. In 1987, Inspiration Software began to develop products for brainstorming, thinking and organizing ideas. In 1996, Inspiration Software introduced Inspiration for educators and students. The company is located in Beaverton, Oregon.

oftware Products

Inspiration

Infobox_Software | name = Inspiration



caption = Example of a Language Arts exercise using Inspiration. These Diagram and Outline Views show the transfer from concept mapping to writing.
developer = Inspiration Software, Inc.
latest_release_version = 8.0
latest_release_date = February 2006
operating_system = Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
genre = Visual learning, Organization
license = Proprietary
website = [http://www.inspiration.com/productinfo/inspiration/index.cfm Main Inspiration Page] The visual learning and thinking software tool Inspiration is most widely known for its use in building graphic organizers, such as concept maps, diagrams and webs.

Kidspiration

The visual learning software tool Kidspiration is used primarily by students in kindergarten through 5th grade to build graphic organizers such as concept maps, diagrams and webs in reading and writing, science, social studies and math. Math manipulatives - fraction tiles, pattern blocks, fraction boxes, color tiles, and base ten blocks - were added to the latest version released in 2008.

InspireData

A new product called InspireData was released in July 2006. Originally funded under a grant from the National Science Foundation, InspireData was developed by TERC, an educational research and development lab. InspireData is a tool for collecting and analyzing data in science, math, and social studies.

Infobox_Software | name = Kidspiration



caption = Example of a student exercise using Kidspiration, showing how the integrated Picture and Writing Views allow instant transfer from graphic representation to written expression.
developer = Inspiration Software, Inc.
latest_release_version = 3.0
latest_release_date = January 2008
operating_system = Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
genre = Visual learning, Organization
license = Proprietary
website = [http://www.inspiration.com/productinfo/kidspiration/index.cfm Main Kidspiration Page]

ee also

* List of concept mapping software
* Theory of Constraints "(TOC)"
* Study software
* Fault tree analysis

References

*Portland Business Journal [http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2001/10/08/focus6.html] [http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2001/11/05/daily15.html] [http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2002/05/13/daily30.html] [http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2003/08/18/story1.html] [http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2003/05/19/daily50.html] [http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2005/02/07/daily15.html] [http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/01/22/focus1.html]
*Combining Software Games with Education [http://www.edusoftdigest.com/education-software/articles/combining_software_games_with_education_evaluation_of_its_educational_effectiveness.htm]
*2002 INC 500 [http://www.inc.com/magazine/20021015/24775.html] and [http://www.inc.com/app/inc500/viewCompany.jsp?cmpId=2002310] Infobox_Software | name = InspireData



caption = Example of a student exercise using Kidspiration, showing how the integrated Picture and Writing Views allow instant transfer from graphic representation to written expression.
developer = Inspiration Software, Inc.
latest_release_version = 1.5
latest_release_date = July 2007
operating_system = Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows
genre = Visual learning, Organization
license = Proprietary
website = [http://www.inspiration.com/productinfo/inspiredata/index.cfm Main InspireData Page]

Reviews and Guides

* MacWorld article on Inspiration 7 [http://www.macworld.com/2003/03/reviews/inspiration7/]
* Mel Levine, All Kinds of Minds [http://www.allkindsofminds.org/learningBaseSubSkill.aspx?lbssid=80]
* Golden Triangle PC Club review of Inspiration 7 [http://www.gtpcc.org/gtpcc/inspiration.htm]
* University of Wisconsin List of Uses for Inspiration [http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/conceptmap/50uses.html]
* SuperKids Software Review of Inspiration [http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/writing/1/inspirat/merge.shtml]
* Learning Village review of Inspiration [http://www.learningvillage.com/html/rinspiration.html]
* Innovation Tools review of Inspiration [http://www.innovationtools.com/Tools/SoftwareDetails.asp?a=53]
* LD Resources on Inspiration [http://www.ldresources.org/?p=1253]
* From Now On, education technology journal review of Inspiration [http://www.fno.org/jan03/inspiring.html]
* ISTE book about using Inspiration in writing [http://www.iste.org/eseries/source/Orders/isteProductDetail.cfm?product_code=STRUC2]
* School District web sites about using Inspiration:
** [http://www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/rmc/multimedia/inspiration.html]
** [http://www.east-buc.k12.ia.us/Ins/00-01/00_Intro.htm]
** [http://lakelandschools.org/EDTECH/Inspir.htm]
* Computer-based study strategies using Inspiration [http://cbss.uoregon.edu/]
* ERIC (http://eric.ed.gov) paper on Concept Mapping in the Classroom with Inspiration Software [http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED444469&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=eric_accno&objectId=0900000b80122ab4]
* University of Calgary professor's essay on using Inspiration [http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~iejll/volume4/johnson_v4n10.html]
* Education Oasis review of Inspiration [http://www.educationoasis.com/product_reviews/Student-Software/inspiration.htm]
* MacWorld review of Inspiration 6 [http://www.macworld.com/2001/10/reviews/inspiration6/]

Official Sites

* [http://www.inspiration.com Inspiration Software web site]