Planning is an executive functioning skill of the brain. It affects our ability to take the actions necessary for completing multi-step goals requiring future planning. It also affects our ability to do complicated writing tasks such as a term paper.
I’m a real fan of paper and pencil for supporting the brain. It is often faster and simpler than technology tools. That said, I have fallen in love with Inspiration 9, a software program designed for visual thinking. Oh, my goodness—I’ve had such fun with the mind mapping and diagram tools. I’m using it to plan presentations, do long-term planning for my life and business, and also use it to coordinate and communicate with my growing staff of virtual assistants by combining it with Dropbox. Since a picture is truly worth 1000 words it is a great tool.
So far I haven’t even touched the most amazing aspect of the program, its ability to turn a visual representation, a mind map or a mind web, into a linear word-based outline. It has tremendous potential to support those of us who struggle with writing. Designed originally as a classroom tool, it would be terrific for educational therapists, tutors, and parents, who are helping students who struggle with writing.
I gave a very brief demonstration of it to an 8th grade client whose eyes lit up as he saw the potential to help him with writing.
If you need some help with planning and writing, find inspiration in using inspiration 9. It’s a great tool to improve executive functioning success.
