Ideaphora’s New Technology Applies Knowledge Mapping to Digital Content for Deeper Learning
PORTLAND, Ore. (PRWEB) June 29, 2015 -- More schools are shelving print materials and converting to digital education content, such as videos and ebooks, as it becomes increasingly available and accessible. Yet, students often have difficulty assimilating information derived from these resources that are passively consumed. To foster deeper learning, Ideaphora, a provider of knowledge mapping technologies for digital education, is launching a browser-based tool for individual teacher and student use that works side-by-side with any online content for unprecedented convenience and focused learning.
Ideaphora is the first knowledge mapping environment that integrates seamlessly with digital content. Knowledge mapping is a proven instructional strategy that educators have used in the classroom for years, but previous tools were limited to pen and paper or software that’s overly complex or disparate from the content – none of which enable educators to maximize the rich learning opportunities afforded by today’s digital education resources.
“Knowledge maps facilitate deeper, personalized learning and make students thinking visible for authentic assessment,” said Ideaphora CEO and co-founder Mark Oronzio. “We’re simplifying and extending the applications of the proven practice of knowledge mapping to the growing array of digital education content in use in schools and in homes.”
By building and sharing knowledge maps, students develop higher order thinking skills and visual learning techniques, critical for college and career readiness. Ideaphora technology deconstructs digital content into meaningful concepts, automatically generating keywords that students can drag-and-drop into their knowledge map that they build right alongside the resource. Through the easy-to-use tools, students can reconstruct the concepts into personalized, lasting knowledge. Clicking nodes from images and videos on their maps take students directly back to points in the content from which they were derived for easier studying. Ideaphora enables students to take notes and organize material, connect ideas, analyze information, and apply their knowledge – all in one screen.
In addition to the new browser-based tool for individual use, Ideaphora’s technology has been available through partnerships with content providers. Available to BrainPOP® customers, Make-a-Map™ is powered by Ideaphora and has helped enrich students' learning experience.
Nili Bartley, a 4th grade teacher at Hopkins School in Hopkinton, Mass., explained: “Students enter the knowledge mapping zone immediately and it’s hard to snap them out of it, nor do I want to. Whether collecting or demonstrating knowledge, Make-a-Map has deepened my students’ understanding across subject areas as evident in their assessments.”
Teachers and students can sign up for the free beta that will become available later this summer at http://www.ideaphora.com/beta.
About Ideaphora
Ideaphora is committed to shaping young minds by developing technologies that help students learn how to construct, retain and apply knowledge from the growing array of digital content. The company offers the first-of-its-kind learning environment that enables students to engage with and assimilate online content in a way that’s seamless, effective and personalized. Ideaphora supports schools and educators in extending the proven practice of knowledge mapping to the demands of today’s digitally driven world. Visit Ideaphora.com for more information or contact info(at)ideaphora(dot)com.
Kristen Plemon, Plemon Communications, +1 616-994-2869, [email protected]
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