Making cognitive connections

The Making Cognitive Connections approach teaches the fundamental technical skills necessary to operate a PDA/smartphone while simultaneously drawing a parallel to the cognitive skills that underlie the development of those technical skills.

How various cognitive skills are used in relation to the Inspiration Maps app

Cognitive Skill	Inspiration Maps Feature/Function	Examples of How the Cognitive Skill Applies to Inspiration Maps Features/Functions
Attention to Detail	Selecting Bubbles	Attention must be paid regarding whether single or multiple bubbles can be selected.
Visual Similarities & Differences	Templates	The templates displayed may be visually similar to each other; however, each view has some unique visual details.
Categorization	Color Select	The Inspiration Maps app allows for related concepts to be identified by color.
Decision Making	Symbols	Decision making is required when determining which symbol best represents the concept presented.

Real-life scenarios

Focusing on the cognitive skills required to use the device and then applying those same cognitive skills to everyday life examples makes this approach practical, concrete, relevant, and transferable.

How cognitive skills utilized for the Inspiration Maps app are also used in real-life examples

Cognitive Skills	Inspiration Maps Example	Example of Real-Life Parallel
Attention to Detail; Categorization	Differentiating between the various templates	You have bills and want to separate them based on type
Decision Making	Deciding which template is most appropriate for the concept being presented	Deciding whether to use Internet Explorer or Google Chrome as your browser
Sequencing	Adding support objects to a main idea	Following a recipe by starting with the first ingredient/step to the last in order