ERIC Number: EJ745115
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 6
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8121
EISSN: N/A
Kidspiration[R] for Inquiry-Centered Activities
Shaw, Edward L., Jr.; Baggett, Paige V.; Salyer, Barbara
Science Activities: Classroom Projects and Curriculum Ideas, v41 n1 p3-8 Spr 2004
Computer technology can be integrated into science inquiry activities to increase student motivation and enhance and expand scientific thinking. Fifth-grade students used the visual thinking tools in the Kidspiration[R] software program to generate and represent a web of hypotheses around the question, "What affects the distance a marble rolls?" The software encouraged flexible and creative thinking as students generated hypotheses, performed preliminary tests of their ideas, easily edited and revised their web, and created pictorial representations to anchor their thinking. The Kidspiration[R] software can be used in many different science inquiries and can help teachers meet the unique needs of visual learners as well as ESL students. (Contains 1 diagram and 1 graph.)
Descriptors: Grade 5, Inquiry, Science Activities, Computer Uses in Education, Computer Software, Creative Thinking, Visualization, Hypothesis Testing, Visual Aids, Science Process Skills, Student Motivation
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 5
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A