Visual Thinking Blogs


What is ADHD?

26th May 2023

You may have heard it called ADHD or ADD but what attention deficit hyperactivity disorder actually looks like can vary from person to person.

And it is estimated that in the UK around 5% of children and 4% of adults have ADHD; this equates to about 2.6 million people in Britain.

We decided to find out a little bit more about ADHD, including the celebrities who claim it is their reason for success and look at some real positive attributes. 

Click here to read more...



What is Autism?

25th April 2023

It is estimated that 1-2% of the population in the UK are on the autism spectrum; that’s more than 1 in every 100 people, which is roughly 700,000 diagnosed adults and children, and if you include their families too, autism is part of daily life for around 2.8 million Brits.

So, what is autism? Well, first of all let's look at what autism isn't (and get the negatives out of the way)...

Click here to read more...



Case Study: There is no alternative to Inspiration!

21st April 2023

Nick Critelli uses Inspiration daily to help in his law practice. He has been working for 50 years as an American trial lawyer in Iowa and New York and as an English barrister with chambers in London, too.

Nick's job is to make complex issues of law and fact understandable to clients, courts and juries, and his number one tool is Inspiration. He says it helps him organise chaos and create roadmaps to resolution for his colleagues and clients. For him "there really is no alternative!"

Click here to read more...



What is Dyslexia?

14th March 2023

There has been a lot of talk about dyslexia over the last year in the media and in parliament, but there are still so many people out there who don’t really know what it is or what it actually means. And, it is estimated that about 10% of the population in the UK, and in fact the world, has some degree of dyslexia; that’s 1 in 10 people or globally 780 million people, diagnosed and undiagnosed.

Click here to read more...



Recommend Inspiration and earn with our Affiliate Programme!

1st March 2023

We have partnered with Impact to provide you with a market-leading affiliate platform to promote and earn sales from Inspiration 10...

Click here to read more information on how...



Autism & Dyslexia: there are no barriers with Inspiration!

14th February 2023

"I can do anything now. I feel that there are no barriers!"

Tracy Scott, who has autism and severe dyslexia, was introduced to Inspiration later in life to help with her Open University studies. After struggling through her high school years, Tracy gained two degrees, and now turns to Inspiration regularly to help with work projects and home-life organisation.

Read more of this case study here...


Inspiration - now available on Windows 11 SE

2nd February 2023

What a great way to kick off 2023! We are super excited to announce that Inspiration 10 is the FIRST visual mapping tool to be approved by Microsoft for Windows 11 SE for Education devices.

Windows 11 SE is an edition of Windows that's designed for education. It runs on web-first devices that use essential education apps.

Click here to read more


Creating the Perfect Presentation

10th January 2023

Having to present in front of others can be a daunting prospect, preceded by actually creating the presentation, ensuring your ideas are conveyed clearly and making sure it is engaging for the audience.

Making a start on that presentation can feel like an uphill battle. But it needn’t…

Click here to find out more


Support the Student Journey

21st November 2022

Life for a student hasn’t got any easier over the years; we understand the struggle to juggle multiple subjects and modules, take coherent notes in class, fact find, gather research, write essays, revise, and create presentations and we also know that it can be overwhelming to tackle all of these. Starting from scratch with a piece of coursework can be daunting and knowing where to start can literally stop you in your tracks.

Find out here how Inspiration can help


Create the Ultimate Set of Notes

21st September 2022

Visual mapping is a great way for note taking, even for the most complex of concepts. The very process of creating a mind map or concept map helps us to understand the topic better. And most importantly the final piece helps us to recall it. However, traditional text note taking also has great benefits. Here we explore each technique and how to combine the two to create the ultimate set of notes.

Click here to find out more


Inventions of the 20th Century Diagram

Flexibility and Visual Thinking

8th August 2022

Both flexible and structured environments are important tools for mind mapping. Some users naturally prefer to start from scratch, others from a template which they customise later. How important is flexibility in mind mapping and what part does it play in visual thinking?

Click here to find out


How to ease cognitive load with outlining and mind mapping

25th July 2022

Outlining an essay or an extended piece of writing is an effective exercise that keeps writing concise and progressive. The conjunction of visual thinking such as mind mapping, with outlining is a clear and effective way to plan essays. Inspiration 10’s separate views facilitate clear and detailed thinking necessary to write great essays.

Click here to learn how.


Inspiration 10 Needs Recommendation Guide

21st June 2022

This needs recommendation guide outlines how Inspiration addresses different user needs. It can be used by DSA Needs Assessors, as well as others working in disability and education, to assist in your roles and clarify how Inspiration 10 can help users.

Recommend Inspiration 10


When to Recommend a Visual Mapping Solution

14th June 2022

We asked Chris Collier, DSA Assessor, about when a visual mapping solution is recommended in a DSA assessment, the barriers to learning that visual mapping can address and how it helps users overcome them.

Click to read the full conversation


Inspiration 10 wins Education Resource Awards 2022

25th May 2022

Inspiration 10 wins the Education Resource Awards for the Special Education Resource or Equipment category, for its innovative approach to helping pupils think more creatively.

Click to read the judges comments


The Ultimate Guide to Visual Thinking

3rd May 2022

Check out our complete guide to visual thinking and learn the most effective way to map out your desired topic.

See our guide here


One-Size-Fits-All Teaching: The Challenges and Impact on Student Mental Wellbeing

29th April 2022

John Hicks highlights the challenges and barriers to inclusion created by generalized teaching practices in mainstream education - and how visual thinking can help.

Find out more here


Returning to Education: Overcoming Dyslexia and Other Barriers as a Mature Student

6th April 2022

When Ria returned to university to study Psychology, Inspiration 10 was her go-to study tool: certain it has boosted her productivity and overall grades while studying remotely.

Read our case study here


Understanding How Visual Thinking Strategies Support Dyslexic Learning

2nd March 2022

John Hicks explores the ways in which different visual thinking strategies enhance dyslexic learning and creativity...

Find out how here


The Latest Update to Inspiration is Here!

7th February 2022

We are proud to announce that the latest version of Inspiration 10 (version 10.11) is now live. Read about all its newest features and how to use them...

Click to learn all about the latest update to Inspiration 10 here



Untangle the Christmas Lights in Inspiration 10 or Inspiration RD

15th December 2021

Check out some of the best submissions to our Inspiration Christmas Lights game and then download it to see if you can solve the puzzle.

Play the game here


How a simple change in writing coursework can help to boost engagement and productivity for dyslexic students - by John Hicks

7th December 2021

John discusses how he used concept mapping to engage dyslexic students with writing coursework.

Find out how here


Inspiration 10.1 is here!

1st November 2021

We are excited to confirm that you can now access the latest Inspiration 10.1 updates. Keep reading to find out everything that is new and how users can update. This is a free update for existing Inspiration 10 and Inspiration RD users.

Watch how-to videos for the latest updates


Inspiration 10: New Updates

5th October 2021

Calling all Inspiration 10 and Inspiration RD users! There is an exciting update coming to you November 1st. Here is what you can expect from Inspiration 10.1...

Read all the upcoming updates here


 

Working with Brain Injuries and Autism: an SEN Advisor's View

14th September 2021

Check out this case study to find out why Helen advocates for Inspiration 10 to be used from primary school age through to higher education, particularly to assist children with challenges in education.

See the complete case study here


 

How to Make a Concept Map

23rd August 2021

Watch this short video to learn everything you need to know about concept maps, including our simple 4-step guide to making your own concept map.

Start concept mapping...


Recovering a stroke: "I've embedded Inspiration into everything I do"

12th August 2021

After suffering a stroke, Simon struggled with memory and cognitive issues when he returned to education. With the recommendation of another student, Simon decided to try Inspiration. Now, Simon integrates Inspiration into every part of his life, which he details here.

Read


"My panic attacks went away with Inspiration"

19th May 2021

Shannon uses Inspiration to cope with her panic anxiety disorder, ADHD and dyslexia, while studying for her acupuncture qualification. Read more and watch the video, where Shannon showcases how neuro-differences are a gift when paired with the best assistive technology.

Read


Inspiration 10: using mind-mapping for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

22nd April 2021

Sharon was recommended Inspiration to help with her Dyslexia, and now uses the software for her studies in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Here Sharon talks about how Inspiration has helped her structure and organise her learning, as well as the innovative ways she uses the software to assist in her CBT client meetings.

Read


How to Use Concept Mapping to Nurture Deeper Learning - by Shaun Killian

26th November 2020

Introducing concept mapping into the classroom is a proven way to enhance learning and deepen understanding, and is a technique that is easily applied to different stages of teaching. Here we will look at the positive impact it has and how to include concept mapping in classroom learning. 

Read


Inspiration 10 and Dragon Naturally Speaking

22nd October 2020

Find out how to use Inspiration 10 for Windows and Dragon Naturally Speaking together. Watch the video to learn how the tools can easily be used in conjunction with one another, then use the keyboard shortcut guide to put it into practice.

Read


Inspiration 10 has arrived!

1st September 2020

Inspiration 10 for Windows is here! In the latest version of Inspiration, you can expect to see exciting new features and enhancements to the software. There is also a mountain of resources available to ensure you get the most out of Inspiration 10.

Read


Inspiration 10

What is New in Inspiration 10

4th August 2020

We are super excited about the launch of Inspiration 10, due for release on the 1st September. As well as many enhancements to the software, we have introduced some brand new features into this latest version. Here is a short summary of what new features to expect in Inspiration 10.

Read


Mapping Ideas and Supporting Learning - by John Galloway, SEND Advisory Teacher, writer and trainer

6th June 2020

Brainstorming is something I’m sure we’ve all done, as I did to plan this article. It involves getting out of our heads the ideas and information we know about a subject so that we can sort it out and organise it into a coherent structure. It is a process rather than an end in itself and can lead to several different outcomes. In my case a ‘Thought Web,’ a visual means of connecting the things I wanted to include before ordering them into a narrative thread.

Read


The Theory of Concept Mapping 

6th May 2020

Concept mapping is a powerful visual thinking technique, commonly used in education, scientific study, engineering and in business. It is great for mapping out knowledge and communicating complex ideas. In this article, we will explore what a concept map is, the benefits of its use and how you can create them in Inspiration 9.

Read


Minimising The Noise In My Head - Student Video Case Study  

19th March 2020

Kylie Nicole, an undergraduate studying Criminology and Psychology at the Open University describes in this video blog how Inspiration 9 helps her to get her ideas down and begin the writing process.  

Watch


Link Phrases in Inspiration 9

The Power of Link Phrases - Deepening Understanding, Supporting Writing & Revision  

25th Feb 2020

Link phrases are commonly associated with concept maps. A concept map illustrates the relationships between concepts. We like to think of it as mapping out knowledge. For example it is a graphical tool that researchers, scientists and engineers can use to organise and structure information. For students it helps them to organise and represent their knowledge of a subject.  

Read more


Inspiration 9 timeline

Creating a timeline with Inspiration 9

31st Jan 2020

Find out how you can quickly create a timeline in Inspiration 9 to use in your reports, essays and presentations.

Read more


Inspiration 9 - now part of TechEd Marketing

Inspiration 9 IE for Windows: now part of TechEd Marketing

27th Dec 2019

TechEd Marketing are delighted to announce that, having licensed the publishing rights from the software's creators, Inspiration 9 IE for Windows is now part of TechEd Marketing. A global product with millions of users worldwide, TechEd Marketing will be developing, publishing and selling Inspiration 9 into regions across the globe.

Read more