Pat
We also have Inspiration on the Uni network and Mind Genius in the library. I asked a colleague in our assessment centre what she thought and this was her response,
I feel that Inspiration (or Mind Genius) can be useful for engineering/maths students as both are relatively easy to use and allow students to visually express ideas. I recently assessed 2 Civil Engineering students and they could both instantly see a use for Inspiration. One thought he would use it to make revision plans of key terms and the other thought he could use it to structure 'for and against' arguments (for example possible wind farm sites). I always feel if students can immediately relate a piece of software to something they are currently working on they are probably going to make good use of it.
Inspiration includes maths symbols but these are based at secondary level. I assume that Mind Genius has access to maths symbols as well. An alternative would be to recommend a 'drawing programme' such as Smart-draw (a software program for creating business charts, technical drawings, and other diagrams) but remember this may not be as straightforward to sue for simple revision plans etc. I've attached a link for you.
http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/ppc/smartdraw.htm?id=104641&gclid=CPfAlb2V_JcCFYsh3god0nMyDQ
On a slightly different note - I have recently met a student who makes good use of MS Excel to produce Gannt charts for coursework. It helps him to have a list of ordered tasks within a time-frame. I've attached a link for this as well.
http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/creating-a-gantt-chart-using-excel.html
Hope that helps!
Sharron Sturgess
University Disability Officer
Loughborough University
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Patricia Parkinson
Sent: 06 January 2009 14:44
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Mind mapping at SET institutions
We have Inspiration on the student and staff image here; useful for many
students and staff, not just those with spld/processing difficulties. I
like it because it has a good word lookup function, can hyperlink to
import info into the mind map, can convert a mind map into a sequential
structure/spine of an essay, can transfer the mind map structure into
Word, with and without mind map diagram, and it talks to you!
It also has a wide range of visual templates (appropriate to different
disciplines) which can help students structure the mass of ideas
bouncing around inside their heads into a logical format, plus a lot of
other useful functions.
Hope this helps
Pat
Pat Parkinson
SpLD Dyslexia Tutor
Student Support Services
The University of Hull
Scarborough Campus
01723 357209
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-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michelle Bingham
Sent: 06 January 2009 12:57
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Mind mapping at SET institutions
Dear colleagues.
Happpy New Year. We're at the point of purchasing a site license for
mind-
mapping software and two particular products have been suggested.
Could colleagues tell me which mind-mapping products they use on their
networks? In particular, do colleagues within Science, Engineering and
Technology (SET) institutions find certain mind-mapping applications
more
suitable than others?
Please note, I'm not after quotes from software supplliers at this
stage.
Very grateful for your feedback.
Kind regards
Michelle
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