Inspiration

Inspiration- a mindmapping tool for all! For more information, check out the Inspired Learning Community website. media type="file" key="Inspiration 9 - 3 Minute Overview.flv" align="center"

= = =__What is Inspiration? __= //Inspiration is mind mapping tool that helps users "visualize & develop ideas, plan & organize written work, and improve communication and build presentations." Students can use Inspiration to create outlines as a brainstorming tool, reorganize their thoughts to identify patterns and relationships in topics and transfer their notes to a word processing program to continue writing or a presentation tool to present their work. //

**__Visualize & Develop Ideas. Understand & Retain Concepts__.**
//Create webs, idea maps, mind maps, concept maps, graphic organizers, process flows, and other diagrams for thinking, organizing and writing. Use these proven visual thinking and learning techniques to brainstorm ideas, explore and explain relationships, and integrate new knowledge with what you already know. Inspiration® encourages deeper, more critical thinking and that improves creativity, comprehension and retention.//

**__Plan & Organize Written Work__**
//Organize ideas and think through projects and assignments more effectively using Inspiration’s Outline View. Structure your work for planning and writing. Learn how to brainstorm and create essay outlines to support the writing process. Gather and keep track of research information and develop a logical flow for written and oral communication. With Outline View, you can quickly develop main and supporting ideas and add detail helping you write to a purpose. Outlining, paired with the integrated visual views, lets you move seamlessly between visual and written expressions of your thinking to expand and refine ideas and produce quality work//.

__**Improve Communication & Build Presentations**__
//Improve communication and share what you’ve learned with Inspiration’s Presentation Manager. Use the content you’ve developed in Diagram, Map and Outline Views and expand your work into more thoughtful and compelling presentations and final projects. Inspiration provides all the tools to create organized, polished, formal presentations that convey ideas clearly and demonstrate your understanding and knowledge. Use the FREE Inspiration Presenter to show your presentation easily on any Macintosh® or Windows® computer.// = __Where can I find Inspiration?__ = //Inspiration is loaded on all computers (desktop and laptops alike). If not, it can easily be installed by submitting a Service Desk ticket. // = __How can students start using Inspiration?__ = = = //Click the Start button and select All Programs. Inspiration 9 is listed towards the top of the programs list. // //When the program opens, students have the choice ot selecting the Diagram view, Outline view, Map View, Opening a saved file, or starting from a template. There is also a link for information on learning how to use Inspiration 9. // = __Where can more information be found about Inspiration?__ = //For more information about Inspiration, please visit the Inspired Learning Community, or consult with your CRS. Hands on training will be provided as requested as well as co-teaching a lesson using this software with students. //
 * = __What can students do with Inspiration9 ?__ =
 * //Inspiration can be used to model defining a task or outlining a problem to solve. //
 * //Students can idenitfy cause and effect. //
 * //Students can idenfity connections as they read. //
 * //Students can identify character traits. //
 * //Students can create vocabulary webs. //
 * //Students can explore scientific concepts and compare and contrast traits, such as types of rocks, types of cells, types of weather systems, types of clouds, etc. //
 * //Students can identify cause and effect relationships in social studies, identify characteristics of regions, describe character traits and accomplishments of famous Americans. //
 * //Teachers can use Inspiration to model these webs using the Promethean boards. Work can be printed and transferred into a poster for display in the classroom. Students can refer back to these webs throughout the unit of study. //