Inspiration Software Takes Visual Thinking to the Cloud With Launch of Webspiration Classroom

Online Writing, Visual Thinking and Collaboration Tool Builds Critical Thinking and Writing Skills, Encourages Collaboration, Improves Student Achievement

PORTLAND, Ore. – Jan. 25, 2011Today Inspiration® Software, Inc., launched Webspiration Classroom™, the online writing, visual thinking and collaboration tool for students and teachers. Developed based on the company's decades of experience as the leader in visual thinking and learning, Webspiration Classroom combines the power of visual thinking with innovative collaboration tools, offering students and teachers 24/7 access to an online environment where they can work independently, with their peers and in groups, to develop and strengthen their writing and thinking skills.

"Today's students have grown up with the expectation that they will have anytime, anywhere access to information as well as to their peers," said Mona Westhaver, president and co-founder, Inspiration Software. "With Webspiration Classroom, we're offering students proven learning tools to improve their writing and thinking skills anytime and anywhere. In addition, we’re providing collaboration tools that allow students to interact with their peers to develop a collective knowledge and to receive guidance from their teachers throughout the learning process. Both of these tools help students become more engaged in learning and, ultimately, achieve at higher levels."

With Webspiration Classroom, students use visual thinking and outlining techniques to build writing skills and analyze, synthesize and comprehend information anytime, anywhere. With 24/7 access, students can apply proven learning methods such as webbing, concept mapping and graphic organizers at school, at home or anywhere they have access to the Internet, extending their learning time to develop their thinking and writing skills.

With Webspiration Classroom's collaboration tools, students work with their classmates and teachers to develop essays, papers and reports, gaining deeper knowledge and a stronger understanding of the concepts they are learning. Students actively engage in learning as they collaborate on group projects, share documents for peer review and receive guidance from teachers throughout the entire learning process. Webspiration Classroom incorporates everyone's contributions and feedback in one document, keeping the process organized as students produce and publish their work.

All Webspiration Classroom documents are automatically saved and backed up in the cloud, giving students and teachers 24/7 access to an engaging, safe and reliable online environment for learning, sharing and collaboration. Students can sign in from home, the library, the coffee shop – anywhere they have Internet access – to develop their projects and invite their classmates and teachers to review their work, as well as to provide their own feedback on other students' projects. Assignments can be delivered, revised, evaluated and returned online, keeping work accessible and organized. This streamlined work process between teachers and students increases instructional time and keeps the focus on learning.

Educators around the country who tested early versions of Webspiration Classroom with their students gave the tool rave reviews for its collaboration capabilities and accessibility.

"When I experienced how easily Webspiration worked, without the need to install software and updates, I was thrilled," said Jacqui Murray, technology teacher, Saint Mary & All Angels School, Aliso Viejo, Calif. "I signed on, threw together a few trial projects in no time and was amazed with the professional results."

As with the company's other learning tools, teachers are using Webspiration Classroom to teach complex concepts and support learning across the curriculum.

Sharon Padget, an English language learning and freshman academy science teacher at Ottumwa High School in Iowa, said, "I have used Webspiration in my science classroom to do concept mapping. I like it because students can create and collaborate with their peers. I also like the paperless option. It has affected my teaching in a positive way, as I use it as a formative assessment to check for understanding of vocabulary. It is easy to learn and full of options for my students."

Subscribing to Webspiration Classroom

Webspiration Classroom is available in one-, two- and three-year subscriptions in packages designed for both classrooms and individual educators. Every Webspiration Classroom subscription includes unlimited documents, unlimited collaboration and anytime, anywhere access. Account subscriptions include access to online support materials, including lesson plans, examples, a Quick Start Guide, a Help Center and implementation tools, which allow students and teachers to take full advantage of Webspiration Classroom's capabilities.

One-year Classroom Subscriptions start at $110 for a 10-pack, $300 for a 30-pack and $360 for a 40-pack. Larger purchase options and school-wide subscriptions are available by contacting Inspiration Software atsales@inspiration.com.

Individual educator subscriptions are $39 for one year, $75 for two years and $110 for three years. A free 30-day trial subscription to Webspiration Classroom is available at

title="http://www.inspiration.com/Freetrial">http://www.inspiration.com/Freetrial

Webspiration Classroom service requires access to the Internet and one of the following supported browsers:

• Windows®: Internet Explorer® 6.5 or greater, Mozilla® Firefox® 3.x
• Macintosh®: Apple® Safari® 4.x, Mozilla® Firefox® 3.x
• Linux®: Mozilla® Firefox® 3.x

More information about Webspiration Classroom is available at

title="http://www.inspiration.com/webspirationclassroom">http://www.inspiration.com/webspirationclassroom

About Inspiration Software, Inc.

/>Recognized as the leader in visual thinking and learning, Inspiration Software, Inc.'s award-winning tools, Webspiration Classroom, Inspiration®, Kidspiration® and InspireData®, are based on proven visual learning methodologies that help students think, learn and achieve. With the powerful combination of visual learning and technology, students in grades K-12 learn to clarify thoughts, organize and analyze information, integrate new knowledge and think critically. Founded more than 25 years ago by Donald Helfgott and Mona Westhaver, the company's visual learning tools are used today by more than 25 million students and teachers worldwide.