:::NazTech:::

Don’t believe in the saying that it is hard to “teach old dogs new tricks.” On the contrary, sometimes it is harder to teach “pups” new tricks! Yes, I am talking about my 6th grade World Geography class. Teaching these kids a news skill is like sticking a round peg into a square hole! Okay, enough with the clichés! What I mean is, when my 6th graders master one type of study skill, learning a new one meets with lot of moaning and groaning. Don’t get me wrong! They moan and groan, but they do their best to learn the skill anyway.

What skill am I talking about? OUTLINING!

So, I started them out using paper and pencil. Workable, but very hard to edit.

Then, I told them to use the “bullets and numbering” feature of Microsoft word. Well, it worked for some but it was confusing for most – but like good soldiers, they never gave up!

Hmmm…there must be an easier way…then I read about a handheld program called THOUGHT MANAGER. I tested it…very nice and simple…easy to use. BUT, it did not have the numbering system I wanted the students to learn.

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What to do? Ah! Of course! INSPIRATION! How could I forget! So, I downloaded the demo and found the answer to my outline problem! INSPIRATION was great! It was as simple to use as THOUGHT MANAGER, but had the numbering system that I wanted the students to learn. In addition, the students can switch from outlining to mind mapping with a click of a button.

And so, INSPIRATION became part of my handheld arsenal and the students began to understand and appreciate outlining.

Check out my happy troop of 6th graders using their handhelds and INSPIRATION to make an outline on the Landforms of Mexico!