Reflection on Concept Mapping Project

The inspiration software was a lot of fun and I enjoyed playing with it and trying to determine what all I could do. That said, I had some problems--but I think most of them were related to my topic area. I chose insects, and there is just a wealth of information. I ended up cutting out a few major headings because I simply couldn't fit them all on a concept map without it being overwhelming. That would be one issue I would have with using this particular technology in the classroom--unless we're doing something very, very basic or perhaps using small-scale concept models (I could have picked just one insect group, for example, and been able to complete a full concept map on just information about that one), I think it gets overwhelming quickly. That might just be my learning style, though. I know I could not complete the assignment in diagram view. There was far too much going on there for me to keep my thoughts straight. Instead, I created a hand-written outline and used outline view to put everything in. Then I went back and applied changes to font and font color to make sure that each main topic, subtopic, thought bubble, etc., had standard modifications to the text. When I tried to work in diagram view, I kept overlooking changes that needed to be made to all of the text or getting confused. In outline view, though, I got through it pretty quickly.

I think it would be helpful if Inspiration had the ability to recognize, say, all subheadings are supposed to look like this, all sub-sub headings are supposed to look like this, etc., and even if it didn't automatically apply these settings, you could at least have the option; of course, I went a little font crazy, so if I'd been sticking to a simpler format, I think it wouldn't have been such a big deal.

Overall, I enjoyed the program and can see classroom applications for it, but I think it would be beneficial to start small with concept maps. Those bubbles just seem to multiply all over the page when I try to concentrate on one topic.

Edited to add an image of my concept map annnd just to mention that I used the inspiration software to produce 5 graphic organizers for a major assignment for another class...so glad I learned to use it and that my free trial hasn't run out yet!!