If you're interested in using Inspiration, they do have multi-user licences,
which are more reasonable in terms of price. We're using it for mapping out
research frameworks, which I find to be really helpful. As a mind mapping
tool, it's not exactly what I would like (eg it's difficult to drag clusters
from one place to another, and the auto-arrange feature never seems to do
what I would expect) but I can see how it could be very helpful for example
in mapping out ideas and an outline structure for essays.

Kind regards
Rachel


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr Rachel A Harris
Scottish Centre for Research into On-Line Learning and Assessment
University of Glasgow
Florentine House
53 Hillhead Street
Glasgow, G12 8QQ

0141 330 2878
[log in to unmask]
www.scrolla.ac.uk


-----Original Message-----
From: Teaching and learning technology officers at universities
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Stephen Brydges
Sent: 28 January 2004 16:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Mind Mapping


I can see why MindGenius is attractive: If I read it right, it's free under
Chest!

I did research this for a school (11-18) a few months ago. Our firm
favourite, by quite a long way, was Inspiration. The interface was bright
(without being patronising), good range & use of image icons, and the
easiest of those we looked at. Worth downloading the 30 day trial, if only
to set a benchmark, & some good ideas from the website:
http://www.inspiration.com.
However they don't do whole site licences, and so the cost was prohibitive.

Instead we chose to use the Mindmapping templates in Microsoft Visio.
Standard Office interface & transferable skills were the persuasive points,
and available cheaply under the existing licence. If you also want a tool
for diagrams/org charts etc. then this is worth considering, and this was
part of our rationale.

IMHO it is absolutely essential to get a good interface for this: easy to
use, with no more complexity than necessary. Mindmapping is partly
brainstorming, partly visual thinking, always involves communication of
ideas to others, and encourages a focus on the relationship of ideas,
processes or objects/people. A bad tool would be one where one spent time
learning how to draw 'the right shape' (there is no right shape - it's not a
flow diagram!) or fiddling with the appearance of connectors.

If I was doing it again... I'd keep hassling Inspiration until they supplied
a site licence.

>>> David Jennings <[log in to unmask]> 01/28/04 12:50 PM >>>
Hello all,

We are considering acquiring a Mind Mapping software MindGenius for college
use (covered by CHEST)

- just wondering is anybody using this software - particular Faculties,
particular uses (-study skills, note taking, project work etc.), over a
network or individual work stations?

Any comments, reflections most welcome

Thanks
David