ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY BLOG | INVENTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

I have always been a big fan of graphic organizers and mind mapping for brainstorming and presenting information. I find it a lot easier to get my ideas down using these tools as compared to straight outlining or creating lists. This past week I was invited to be part of a Private beta test for Mindmeister, a new online mind mapping application. Mindmeister lets you upload your Mindjet MindManager Mindmaps or you can create your own from scratch right within the browser. The program feels fast even though it is coming off the server. There are limitations in terms of the number of icons that are available to use and the fonts. Other than that it is a really useful tool that also allows for collaboration. You see I could easily invite others to both View or Collaborate on my mind map which is really an exciting feature. Imagine all of the possibilities as you are planning your project. When you are finished using Mindmeister you can Export your mind map to a RTF file or to GIF file format. This is really a very cool tool and gives you access to a graphic organizer when connected to the web. It will be interesting to see how this tool develops and the new features that are added based on the early feedback from users.

One of my colleagues at the College of St. Elizabeth was kind enough to send me a link to You Tube that was not only humorous but really hit home. For any one who does technology support and training we must remember the importance of professional development and training. In the video one monk is transitioning from using a scroll to using a book and asks for assistance to use this "new technology" by calling the Help desk. As teachers, we must remember that when we introduce new technologies that we must build in support and training opportunities and the application of the technology. Likewise, we must also be cognizant of the learner's learning style as we present the new information. The video really hit home for me and I wanted to share it with you. Let me know what you think.