Inspiration Software, the earliest pioneer of mind mapping software, recently announced that it will launch a new mind mapping and diagramming app for the iPad at the end of March.
Called Inspiration Diagrams, the new visual thinking app is designed to help students in grades 6-12 to create visual diagrams and outlines that help them to clarify their thoughts, organize and analyze information, integrate new knowledge and learn to think critically.
Inspiration will lead off with an abridged version of the app, Diagrams Lite, which will be available for free in the AppStore in March. That will be followed by a full version, which will be available for purchase in April.
Why is this product launch significant? Because in the last 2 years, iPads have made major advances into the classroom, and are now being incorporated into primary school curricula around the world. In addition, Apple recently announced a far-reaching education initiative that will make it easier for teachers and others to create books and materials for the classroom.
You know this education revolution is picking up serious momentum when even the Catholic church in the small town where I live is incorporating iPads into one of its grade school classrooms!
The challenge, I suspect, will be for teachers to actually figure out how they will integrate Diagrams into their curricula. Hopefully, Inspiration Software will provide teachers with some resources to help them do this. The ideal scenario, at least in my mind, would be for schools to teach kids how to analyze problems and develop innovative solutions using this mobile thinking tool.
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