'Inspiration' is a computer program which allows students to brainstorm ideas visually . It can be used to create webs, idea maps, mind maps, concept maps, graphic organisers, process flows and other diagrams to organise ideas and thoughts. The links between concepts enables students to make connections and see relationships between ideas. The built in library of many different graphics allows users to visually represent information. This program extends students from simply writing/drawing a brainstorm in their workbooks to visually creating a piece of extraordinary work using ICT skills in the classroom. It is a wonderful way to help students to clarify their thinking.
The url for this program can be found at : www.inspiration.com/inspiration
In our EDU4PLT workshop today, we used Inspiration to create a concept map. I chose 'wedding' as the theme and incorporated different aspects of wedding planning as can be seen in my concept map:
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Next we created a mindmap in Inspiration. As can be seen below I chose nature as the starting
point. The many arms leading off the main idea can allow students to add information as necessary.In Conclusion, I found 'Inspiration' to be a a very useful tool for brainstorming, creating mind maps and other forms of visually representing connected ideas. ICT skills are evident in VELS from level 2 upwards and programs like Inspiration will help them to display these skills.
****Update (2/9/10)
On my placement in a grade 4 class, the students used 'kidspiration' to create a family of four and their weekly grocery list (only healthy foods). Using this program students were actively involved in creating their own mindmap, using arrows to ideas that were related/connected. The students' final products looked really creative and very colourful as they had used images from the in built library as well as finding images on the internet and 'copying' and 'pasting' them in. This is the website for kidpsiration: www.inspiration.com/kidspiration****
