Inspiration 8 – Bec’s Poems

 

Inspiration 8

Student’s who have short term memories often find, that by the time they go through all the processes needed to get an idea from their minds onto a piece of paper, they have forgotten what they wanted to write. Due to this, to get their ideas down on paper or the computer they tend to write disjointed pieces that may make no sense to the reader.

Inspiration 8, now up to version 9 is only one of many mind mapping programs available for students who need a visual prompt to remember their ideas during the writing process.

Below is a visual map that was developed within the Inspiration program over a couple of lessons, with one of my students. The template was designed to guide Bec into developing her ideas. The template had instructions built in to each link, this enabled Bec to work independently at home. She also recorded verbal ideas that were embeded into the inspiration page, this enabled her to remember her ideas for how she might use each element in her poetry.

Bec used the ideas she developed in the mind map to write two poems that you can see below. Click on the picture to see the full view.

Flowers 

Lavender  

Lavandula  

Fragrant and silvery  

Pretty  

                                                  

Wild garlic   

Allium vineale   

Clustered clove like  

Its pretty, but smells bad  

 

Noddy, musk thistle

Carduus nutans

Soft fluffy top, sharp prickly bottom

Calm

Becky age 12

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Shades

Amethyst

Gorgeous, fancy

Crystals and opals        

Indigo

Beautiful, glamorous  

Indigo sun sets

Violet

Vibrant, Magnificent

African, common, shrinking violet

Becky age 12

As stated on the Inspiration website you can you the program for many things including but not limited to;

Brainstorm ideas, structure your thoughts and visually communicate concepts to strengthen understanding with the Diagram and Map Views. To take notes, organize information, and structure writing for plans, papers and reports, use the integrated Outline View to focus on main and supporting ideas and to clarify thinking in written form. With Inspiration’s Presentation Manager, transform your diagrams, mind maps and outlines into polished presentations that communicate ideas clearly and demonstrate understanding and knowledge.

A 30 day trial of the program is available for download from the following link http://www.inspiration.com/Freetrial

There is also a free web based version, great for collaborative activities, that can be accessed through the next link http://mywebspiration.com/

If you would like training in how to use Inspiration or to learn more about its application in educational settings for students with specific learning difficulties contact Sandy Russo on 8431 1655.