I am a teacher. I need to create, compile, brainstorm, produce, present, share, collaborate, collect, grade, and report.

I create lesson plans for my class. My lesson isn’t just facts, thoughts, and ideas–it’s a visual map of everything I need on a topic in one place. I can add links to web-based resources and upload related documents. I attach images and videos that display and play right in Spinscape! I can take these lessons and link them in a master map as a class planner for the school year, the semester, the month, or the week.

I create presentations for each lesson. When the map of my lesson is ready to go, I don’t worry about power point or overhead materials. I create a slide show presentation in Spinscape that I can use to present the information to my students. I can advance through the slides while discussing the information and answering questions.

I set up a resource center for my students. After the lesson, I grant sharing permissions for the entire class. Read only, of course, so they can look but can’t change anything. This way the students can access my lesson as a resource center for this assignment. That’s right! No printing off handouts. The students can review the lesson online and print it at home if necessary. It’s win, win!

My lessons become the students’ assignments. I can save a new version of a lesson and add to it so that it becomes the assignment. Students can be given nodes with individual write permissions. Then only that student and I will be able to view and edit what is assigned to them. They can submit their discussion questions or report by attaching them in the map. I can review, make comments, and even present grades back to each student, on a private basis. When the assignment is over, I can make everything Read only–so they can’t turn it in late. As owner of the map, any sharing permissions are my choice. I have control. When the class is over, I can revoke all permissions–and the map is mine and only mine again.

I can export the map so it becomes a report or an outline. I can use the export options to compile and save a report or summary of the lesson, the assignment, and of each students work and grades. The export can include notes, links, images and even videos! I can always print off a copy and have that take away I need to give parents at conferences or to bring to a department meeting.

Speaking of department meeting, we can use Spinscape to collaborate on a department-wide curriculum. Or better yet, District-wide. It’s perfect. We can all work on the same map at the same time–or individually on our own time. Discover and import online resources. Upload documents. Add our thoughts and ideas. In the end, we redo and rearrange until we’re satisfied. Then present it for approval. Perfect!

I am a teacher. I have a lot to do and I found one resource to handle so many of my needs. I use Spinscape!