Inspiration® 7 Half Day Workshop

Inspiration® 7 Half Day Workshop
Overview: This outline provides you with a guide for introducing Inspiration and visual learning in a hands-on environment. It gives background on Inspiration Software, Inc., Inspiration, and visual learning techniques and their benefits. Please feel free to revise these materials for your audience and time allowance.

If you have any questions or need additional materials, contact us at trainingresources@inspiration.com . If you have questions on how a specific Inspiration tool works, you can use the Help menu or consult your Getting Started Guide for answers. An electronic version of the Getting Started Guide can be found in your Inspiration 7/Inspiration Documentation folder.

Introduction
Today we're going to explore Inspiration and visual learning to see how this proven methodology inspires students to tap creativity, build new knowledge, develop ideas, analyze complex topics, and improve organizational skills. We'll view classroom examples and walk through many of the new features found in Inspiration 7. And Inspiration was recently updated in spring 2003 to provide students with even more writing power! We'll explore some of these new changes that make it even easier for teachers and students to harness the power of visual learning with Inspiration.
1. Inspiration Software, Inc.
  Inspiration is published by Inspiration Software®, Inc. the leaders in visual thinking and learning tools for students and educators. Founded in 1982, Inspiration Software develops, publishes, and distributes visual thinking and learning tools for students and educators. The company's award-winning products are used around the world and in over 60 percent of school districts in the United States. Inspiration Software's mission is to support improvements in education and make a positive difference in students' lives by providing software tools that help students learn to think.
  
  Inspiration, the premier tool to develop ideas and organize thinking, supports improved achievement for students grade 6 to adult. Inspiration Software also publishes Kidspiration, the visual learning tool designed specifically to help K-5 students build strong thinking skills with visual learning.
2. Introduction to visual learning
  Inspiration is used across the curriculum -- primarily in language arts, social studies, and science -- for a variety of visual thinking and learning activities, including concept mapping, outlining, webbing, brainstorming, and more.
  
  Visual learning is one of the most effective means for teaching thinking skills. Visual learning methodologies help students absorb knowledge and think meaningfully about a subject as they:
  
  ( Each bullet below links to an example diagram. Open and show each example to illustrate the technique and show an Inspiration classroom example. You may also wish to do this by opening the file named Visual Learning and clicking the hyperlinks. This file can be found in IS 7 Half Day Workshop/Visual Learning Folder.)
  1. Brainstorm to generate ideas and develop thoughts
  2. Web to show how different categories of information interrelate
  3. Diagram to graphically represent content and its components
  4. Plan to express large volumes of information in a concise format
  5. Think critically to visually analyze, criticize, and advocate ideas
  6. Map to illustrate relationships between ideas
  7. Organize to clarify thoughts for writing
  8. Outline to create a structured format for information
Step-by-step demonstration
1. Starting in Diagram View
  1. Getting acquainted
    With an interface that's identical on both Macintosh and Windows platforms, Inspiration is easy to use in any setting. Inspiration opens in Diagram View where we process, organize, and prioritize information visually. Here, everything is right at our fingertips. The Diagram toolbar across the top offers easy access to key program features. On the Symbol palette, there are over thirteen hundred symbols to visually represent ideas and information. And, along the bottom, the tools on the Formatting toolbar let us instantly change colors, fonts, and styling.
  2. Adding new symbols
    1. Main idea
      When we open Inspiration, one symbol appears in the center of the screen with the text, Main Idea, highlighted. It's easy to get started -- we just type!
      
      Let's enter the topic, Career thoughts , into the Main Idea symbol. As students today are often required to explore and plan career ideas, we'll use this as the foundation for our project.
      
      With the Main Idea symbol selected, type Career thoughts.
    2. Create tool
      There are many different ways to create new symbols in Diagram View. An easy way to add a linked symbol is to use the Create tool. Let's build off our main idea by clicking the Create button. This adds a linked symbol in the direction we choose. Now enter Interests into this new symbol.
      
      With the Career thoughts symbol still selected, on the Diagram toolbar, click the upper right point on the Create tool. Type Interests into the new symbol.
    3. RapidFire™ tool
      Another way to add linked symbols is with the RapidFire tool. RapidFire entry allows us to capture our ideas and record them quickly -- it's great for brainstorming.
      
      Let's brainstorm some interests a student might express. With this symbol selected, click the RapidFire button. The red lightning bolt indicates the tool is turned on. Now type Computers and hit Enter, and then type Work with data, and hit Enter. We'll also add a love of Math , and press Enter. Finally, type Astronomy , and then click the RapidFire button again to turn it off.
      
      With the Interests symbol still selected, on the Diagram toolbar, click the RapidFire button. Type Computers and press Return or Enter. Type Work with data and press Return or Enter.. Type Math and press Return or Enter.. Type Astronomy and press Return or Enter.. On the Diagram toolbar, click the RapidFire button again.
    4. Subtopic Quick Control
      There is now a Subtopic Quick Control on the Interests symbol. The Quick Control makes it easy to hide and show a symbol's subtopics.
      
      With the Interests symbol still selected, c lick the Subtopic Quick Control to hide the subtopics. Click it again to make the subtopics visible.
    5. Point and type
      Point and type is an easy way to record thoughts that don't yet fit into our current focus. Just point anywhere on the diagram, click the mouse button, and start typing. A new symbol is automatically created. Let's think ahead in our career plan and add a Possible occupations symbol.
      
      Click in the space to the left of the Interests symbol. Type Possible occupations into the new symbol.
    6. Using the symbol libraries
      Inspiration's symbol libraries provide a wide variety of pictures and images to represent concepts and ideas. Later on, we'll also look at how to create symbol libraries and fill them with images from clip art, the Internet, and other programs.
      1. Drag and drop
        Using drag and drop, we can simply grab a symbol from the Symbol palette and drop it into our diagram. Book club is another one of our interests, so we'll grab the Book symbol from the Basic library and drop it into our diagram. To label the symbol, we simply type.
        
        On the Symbol palette, c lick on the Book symbol and drag and drop it on the right side of the Interests symbol. Type Book club into the new symbol.
      2. Select Library tool
        There are several ways to locate the perfect symbol. Clicking the Select Library button gives us a category list. Each category has several libraries. Many students think that being a doctor is an interesting occupation, so let's grab the stethoscope, the symbol that represents a career as a doctor, and add it to our diagram.
        
        On the Symbol palette, c lick the Select Library button. A list of symbol categories appears. Navigate to the Work-School category and select the Careers library. Click on the Doctor symbol and drag and drop it below the Possible occupations symbol.
      3. Replace symbol
        Symbols already in the diagram can also be replaced with images from the Symbol palette. Let's find a new image to represent our Astronomy symbol. This time, we'll use the Previous Library button and scroll back through the symbol libraries, one by one, stopping at the Space library. When we click on a symbol, it replaces the selected symbol. Astronomy now has a great visual cue -- the galaxy photo.
        
        Select the Astronomy symbol. On the Symbol palette, click the Previous Library button 10 times, stopping at the Space library. Click the Galaxy symbol.
  3. Linking symbols
    We've been working with symbols, the shapes and images that represent our ideas. Let's look now at links, the lines and arrows that connect our ideas and tell us more about the relationships between them.
    1. Link tool
      The Link tool makes linking ideas easy. Just click the symbol where the link will start, Interests , and then where the link should end, Book club . Then we'll click on Career thoughts and link it to Possible occupations . Simply click the Link button again to turn the Link tool off.
      
      Click off the Astronomy symbol. On the Diagram toolbar, click the Link button. Click on the Interests symbol and then the Book club symbol to create a link between them. Then click on the Career thoughts symbol and then the Possible occupations symbol to establish a second link. Click on the Link button again to turn the Link tool off.\
    2. 32 link connection points
      We can add more connection points if we want to link to a specific point on a symbol. To do this, we go under the Link menu and select 32 Link Connection Points.
      
      Under the Link menu, select 32 Link Connection Points.
    3. Draw link
      We can also use the mouse to draw links between symbols. To draw a link between Possible occupations and the Doctor symbol, we select the symbol where the link will start, and click and hold one of the four diamonds that appear. Now drag the cursor to the symbol where the link will end. As you can see, we now have 32 different connection points. Pick one and drop the link there.
      
      Select the Possible occupations symbol. From the bottom diamond, drag a link to the top of the Doctor symbol.
    4. Link text
      When selected, each link has a text box. Adding text on a link helps define the relationship between two symbols. Let's add the words medical field to our selected link. To adjust the position of the link text, drag the black dot.
      
      With the link between the Possible occupations symbol and the Doctor symbol still selected, type medical field . Drag the text up and down on the link.
  4. Adding notes text
    Notes let us add details or start the writing process in Diagram View. Now, in Inspiration 7, notes are visually integrated to help bridge the gap between the visual and verbal modes of learning.
    1. Note tool
      Let's add a note to our Doctor symbol. Select the symbol, and then click the Note button. The new note is ready for text. We can express thoughts, document research, describe content, and add other information while still working in a visual environment. When doing a career plan, students are always interested in education and salary so we'll add this information to our note.
      
      Select the Doctor symbol. On the Diagram toolbar, click the Note button. Type Research education, salary, and working conditions. into the note.
    2. Note Quick Control
      When we add a note to a symbol, a Note Quick Control appears. The Quick Control can be used to open and close the note.
      
      Click on the Doctor symbol. Click the Note Quick Control to hide the note. Point out the change to the state of the Note Quick Control. Click it again to make the note visible.
    3. Detach note
      Because people work in different ways, notes are flexible. We can easily move a note to any open place on the diagram.
      When we first select a note, the gray handles show the note is attached. As we drag the note away from its symbol, these handles change color.
      
      Click in the note title bar. Drag the note to an open spot in the diagram and drop it.
    4. Move symbol without note
      When detached, we can move the symbol and note independently.
      
      Select the Doctor symbol. Drag the symbol to an open spot in the diagram and drop it.
    5. Reattach note
      To reattach a note, drag it close to the symbol until the boxes fill gray.
      
      Click in the note title bar. Drag the note to the right side of the Doctor symbol and drop it.\
    6. Move symbol and note together
      Now when we move one, the other moves too.
      
      Select the Doctor symbol and drag and drop it below the Possible occupations symbol.
  5. Adding hyperlinks
    It's easy to gather, manage, and present information from multiple sources with the Hyperlink tool.
    1. Hyperlink tool
      1. To web page
        
        Entering an Internet address
        We can insert a hyperlink to a web page into a note or symbol simply by typing the Internet address. Let's enter an web site address into our note by typing www.bls.gov . A click on this hyperlink would provide us with salary survey information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
        
        Click in the note. Type See www.bls.gov .
        
        Formatting selected text
        We can also format selected text as a hyperlink. Let's select the word occupations and then click the Hyperlink button. Here, Web Page is selected and the text we highlighted in the diagram appears in the Hyperlink Text box. Now we'll insert the Internet address for the Bureau's current Occupation Outlook Handbook by typing http://stats.bls.gov/oco . The text in our symbol now contains a hyperlink to a resource where we can find out more information on possible careers.
        
        Select the text occupations symbol. On the Diagram toolbar, click the Hyperlink button. Under Hyperlink Options, Web Page should be selected. The word “occupations” should appear in the Hyperlink Text box. In the Link To box type http://stats.bls.gov/oco . Click OK.
      2. To file
        With Inspiration 7's hyperlinking functions, we can tie research or other resources into our project by adding hyperlinks to any file, of any type. To show skills in data collection, a student could add a hyperlink to a spreadsheet file. Let's select the text in the Work with data symbol and click the Hyperlink button again. This time, we'll click File and then locate our document.
        
        Select the text in the Work with data symbol. On the Diagram toolbar, click the Hyperlink button. Under Hyperlink Options, select File. The words “Work with data" should appear in the Hyperlink Text box. Click the Select File button. Navigate to the IS 7 Half Day Workshop folder. Select the file named Acceleration Analysis . Click OK.\
  6. Saving a diagram
    Of course, whenever we work on a document, it's a good idea to save it on a regular basis. We'll find Save under the File menu.
    1. Save as Inspiration 6
      Inspiration 7 documents can also be saved in the Inspiration 6 format so anyone can open and work with them using this earlier version.
      
      From the File menu, select Save. In the Format box, show Inspiration 6.0 document.
2. Switching to Outline View
  1. Switching views
    So far, we've been expressing our ideas in a visual format. Inspiration also has a fully integrated Outline View. This means that every diagram instantly translates into an outline, and then back again, with one click.
    
    Select the Career thoughts symbol. On the Diagram toolbar, click the Outline button.
  2. Getting acquainted
    In Outline View, we can effortlessly organize, prioritize, and manipulate information. Here, Inspiration structures our work into a traditional hierarchy, building the foundation of a strong, written project. Our symbols are now topics and subtopics. The notes text we added in Diagram View appears directly beneath its topic. And, even though we did not assign a name to the Doctor symbol, Inspiration has labeled the topic automatically. This feature is called Picture-to-Topic.
    
    Just like in Diagram View, all the tools we need are readily available. The Outline toolbar across the top offers quick access to topics, notes, hyperlinks, and more. Running along the left side of the outline, the control columns make it easy to organize information. Quick Controls allow us to control project notes, subtopics, and recorded audio with a click of the mouse. And the handy, accessible options on the Formatting toolbar invite us to customize our work. Finally, the Zoom tools let us adjust the size of our outline on screen.
  3. Adding new topics
    1. Topic tool
      Let's add a topic for the volunteer experience many students acquire. To add a new topic, click the Topic button. Now we'll type in Volunteer experience .
      
      With the Career thoughts topic selected, on the Outline toolbar, click the Topic button. Type Volunteer experience into this new topic.
    2. Subtopic tool
      Now we'll add a subtopic. With our new topic selected, this time we'll click the Subtopic button and type Tutor .
      
      With the Volunteer experience topic selected, on the Outline toolbar, click the Subtopic button. Type Tutor into this new topic.\
    3. Subtopic Quick Control
      As you can see, when we added the new subtopic, a Subtopic Quick Control appeared next to the Volunteer experience topic.
      We can use this Quick Control to hide and show our subtopics.
      
      Click the Subtopic Quick Control next to the Volunteer experience topic to hide the Tutor subtopic. Click it again to make the subtopic visible.
  4. Adding notes text
    Notes text in Outline View allows us to expand on ideas, or actually start writing a paper or report.
    1. Note tool
      Let's add a note to our outline. With Tutor selected, click the Note button, and type Teaching high school chemistry also interests me.
      
      Select the Tutor subtopic. On the Outline toolbar, click the Note button. Type Teaching high school chemistry also interests me.
    2. Note Quick Control
      Sometimes it's helpful to hide notes text and work with only the higher-level organization of the outline. To hide a note, click the Note Quick Control for that topic. Notice how the Quick Control has changed color. This shows that there is a hidden note for that topic. When we click it again, the note reopens.
      
      Click the Note Quick Control next to the Tutor subtopic to hide the note. Point out the change to the state of the Note Quick Control. Click it again to make the note visible.
  5. Organizing ideas in the outline
    1. Right tool
      As we review our work, we may discover that a topic should really be a subtopic. To change the hierarchy, select the topic and click the Right button. Since Math could easily be a subtopic of Work with data , let's use the Right button to move it over.
      
      Select the Math topic. On the Outline toolbar, click the Right button.
    2. Move topic
      We can also easily drag topics around to rearrange the outline. Just select the topic to be moved ... and drag it to its new location. The black line shows where the topic will drop. Let's move the Work with data topic below Possible occupations . As we drop this topic, notice that the subtopics moved too.
      
      Select the Work with data topic. Drag and drop it directly beneath the Possible occupations topic, above Doctor .\
    3. Focus In command
      If we want to work with only part of our outline, we can use the Focus In command. Focusing exclusively on a specific section gives us the entire screen to work with. Any changes we make now will be reflected when we display the complete outline again.
      
      Select the Possible occupations topic. From the View menu, select Focus In.
    4. Left tool
      Let's use the Left tool to move Math back up one level in the hierarchy.
      
      Select the Math topic. On the Outline toolbar, click the Left button.\
    5. Focus Out command
      To return to the complete outline, we select Focus Out from the View menu.
      
      From the View menu, select Focus Out.
    6. Checklist command
      While working, it's often helpful to use the checklist to track progress. The checklist is visible in both Outline and Diagram View. To show the checklist, go under the Tools menu. To check a box, just click it. To clear a box, click it again. To turn off the checklist, we visit the Tools menu again.
      
      From the Tools menu, select Show Checklist. Check several of the boxes. Under the Tools menu, select Show Checklist again to turn off the checklist.
  6. Formatting the outline
    1. Topic Defaults tool
      To personalize our outline, Inspiration lets us change and set the defaults for any or all topic levels and notes.
      The Topic Defaults tool is located on the Formatting toolbar. Let's change our main idea to a new color and a larger text size. When we select Preview we can see what our selection will look like. Then let's make our level one topics another color and click OK. Now any new topics added at these levels will match the new defaults.
      
      Select the Career thoughts topic. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Topic Defaults button. Main Idea should be filled in. Change color and text size. Click Preview. Point out the changes. Click Level 1. Change the color and click OK to close the Topic Defaults dialog box.
    2. Prefix tool
      Inspiration also offers a variety of prefix styles.
      We can even create our own custom prefix formats, if desired, and start numbering from the main idea level.
      
      With the Career thoughts topic still selected, on the Formatting toolbar, click the Prefix button. Select a new prefix style.
3. Returning to Diagram View
  1. Switching views
    These are just some of the basic functions found in Outline View. Because Inspiration's outlining and diagramming views are integrated, a s we organize and develop our outline, Inspiration instantly translates these changes in Diagram View.
    1. Diagram tool
      Let's click the Diagram button to return to Diagram View. Now we can see that all of the changes and additions we made in Outline View are reflected in our diagram.
      
      With the Career thoughts topic still selected, on the Outline toolbar, click the Diagram button.\
  2. Organizing ideas in the diagram
    1. Align command
      Inspiration's Effect menu provides several commands that help us choose how our diagram looks on screen. Let's select the Career thoughts , Volunteer experience , and Tutor symbols. Under the Effect menu, chose Align, and select Vertical Centers.
      
      Select the Career thoughts , Volunteer experience , and Tutor symbols. Under the Effect menu, chose Align, and select Vertical Centers.
    2. Evenly Space command
      Now we can select Evenly Space and Vertical to even out the space between the symbols.
      
      With Career thoughts , Volunteer experience , and Tutor symbols still selected, under the Effect menu, chose Evenly Space, and select Vertical.
    3. Move symbols
      To continue organizing our diagram, we can choose to move any number of the symbols around simply by selecting and dragging them. Let's hold down the Shift key, and then click on the Work with data and Math symbols so we can move them above Possible occupations. Notice that when we move a symbol, its links always stay connected. This way, we never lose the connections between ideas when we rearrange our work.
      
      Click away from the previously selected symbols. Hold down the Shift key, and then click on the Work with data and Math symbols. Drag them above Possible occupations.\
    4. Nudge tool
      For more precise alignment, the Nudge tools move symbols and notes in the direction of the arrow, one pixel at a time.
      
      Select the Work with data symbol. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Nudge button several times in any direction.
    5. Arrange tool
      If we want Inspiration to automatically arrange our diagram, we use the Arrange tool. Let's click the Arrange button on the toolbar. There are many different diagram styles and link options available. Right now, let's stick with the standard configuration and click OK.
      
      With the Work with data symbol still selected, on the Diagram toolbar, click the Arrange button. Entire Diagram, Auto-90 Links, Top Down Tree, and No Stack should be selected. Click OK.
    6. Zoom tools
      The Zoom tools in the lower left corner allow us to make our diagram larger or smaller on the screen.
      
      With the Work with data symbol still selected, on the lower scroll bar, click each of the Zoom buttons several times.
    7. Fit to Window tool
      We can also pick a specific percentage, or choose Fit to Window, which sizes our diagram nicely on screen.
      
      With the Work with data symbol still selected, on the lower scroll bar, click the Percentage box to show the options. Select Fit to Window.
  3. Formatting the diagram
    1. Symbol colors
      Now that we've arranged our diagram, it's a great time to use color to distinguish ideas and identify related groups of symbols. The Formatting toolbar has everything we need to instantly change colors, fonts, and styling. Let's change the colors of the Possible occupations symbol and its subtopics to differentiate them from other sections of the diagram.
      
      This time, to select multiple symbols, we'll use the mouse to drag a selection box around them. Now, let's change the fill color, or color inside the symbols. With the symbols selected, click the Fill Color button and select a new color. Now click the Line Color button and pick a new color for the lines around the symbols and the links between them.
      
      Click in the empty space below the Work with data symbol. Hold down the mouse and group select the Work with data , Math , Doctor , and Possible occupations symbols. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Fill Color button. Select a new fill color, preferably one that is light enough so the text can still be read. Then, with the symbols still selected, click the Line Color button and select a new color.
    2. Multicolor tool
      We can also change the colors of any of the multicolored symbols. When a symbol is selected, the colors in that symbol appears on the Formatting toolbar.
      Let's change the color of the stethoscope. We'll click on the red, and then choose a new color.
      
      Select the Doctor symbol. On the Formatting toolbar, click the red color capsule. Select a new color.
    3. Note colors
      Just as we changed the colors of the symbols, we can also change the colors of a note. Select the note and click the Fill Color button on the Formatting toolbar. Now, select a new color. Now select a new line color.
      
      Select the note. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Fill Color button. Select a new fill color, preferably one that is light enough so the text can still be read. Then, with the note still selected, click the Line Color button and select a new color.
    4. Defaults tool
      We can easily create multiple objects with the same characteristics using the Defaults tool. Let's change the look of our Volunteer experience symbol.
      First, let's change the symbol shape, and then select a new text size, making it bold and a new color. Finally, let's select a new fill color. To make this new look the default for symbols, click the Defaults button, and choose Set Default. Now, any new symbols we add to the diagram will reflect this look.
      
      And, once we've set the default look, we can apply it to existing symbols in the diagram. Let's select the Tutor symbol and click the Defaults button again. This time, choose Apply Defaults. Now both of the topics share the same characteristics.
      
      Select the Volunteer experience symbol. On the Symbol palette, select a new symbol shape. With the Volunteer experience symbol still selected, on the Formatting toolbar, select a new text size, and then click the Bold button. Click the Text Color button and select a new color. Then, click the Defaults tool and select Set Default. Finally, select the Tutor symbol. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Defaults button, and choose Apply Default.\
    5. Resize symbol
      It's also possible to manually change the size of symbol in our diagram. To do this, we just click on the symbol and drag any corner.
      
      Select the Career thoughts symbol. Click on any corner and drag it to the desired size.
  4. Making the final touches
    1. Spell tool
      A quick click of the Spell button in either Diagram or Outline View ensures spelling accuracy.
      
      On the Diagram or Outline toolbar, click the Spell button.
    2. Help system
      The Help system is the place to find answers for any "inspiring" questions. It provides all of the information found in the Getting Started Guide , in an easy-to-use searchable format.
      
      On the Help menu, select Inspiration Help.
    3. Page Setup and Print
      Customized printing options are available under Page Setup. Page Setup options allow us to customize how a document prints. We choose layout, specify margin settings, and add headers and footers. Print Preview lets us view our work before we print. Then, we just click the Print button.
      
      From the File menu, select Print Preview. Click Page Setup and display the different options.
  5. Transfer
    Now let's look at Inspiration's newest enhancement: the Transfer tool. Just added in spring 2003, the Transfer tool makes it easy for students to continue the writing process in the word processor of their choice. After working in Inspiration to brainstorm, organize, and outline, students then use AppleWorks® or Microsoft® Word® to finish the writing process and prepare their projects for publication.
    
    With our Career thoughts project open in Diagram View, I'll first click the Transfer button on the Diagram toolbar. I'll click OK when prompted to save my work.
    
    Click the Transfer button. Select yes when prompt to save.
    
    (If more than one word processor exists on your computer, a prompt will ask you which one you would like to open in.)
    
    Here you see the document opens with our diagram and outline displayed, ready for us to continue our work and finalize our project. I can add to my existing thoughts or begin writing new ones.
    
    Close you new word processing document.
4. Extras
  1. Changing Application Properties
    Now let's look at some of the other features offered in Inspiration 7. First, we'll look at the Application Properties, which allow us to customize the appearance and performance of Inspiration.
    1. Using Audio
      Let's start by exploring Inspiration 7's new audio tools. These offer students and educators the ability to tap into multiple learning styles. In Application Properties, we'll click to turn on the tools under Audio: Talking Interface, Record Sound, and Listen Tool.
      
      On the Utility menu, select Application Properties. Check the boxes for Listen Tool, Record Sound, and Talking Interface.
      1. Talking Interface
        The talking interface increases accessibility for all learners by automatically reading the text in program menus and buttons. When on, we simply hold the mouse button over a tool on the toolbar to hear its name read back to us.
        
        On the Diagram toolbar, hold the cursor over a button until the computer speaks. Move the cursor to the Symbol palette. Hold the cursor over several of the symbols until the computer speaks.
      2. Listen Tool
        With the Listen tool, we can hear our work read aloud. We'll click the Listen tool to turn it on, then click a symbol or note to hear it read. Let's click Career thoughts.
        
        On the Diagram toolbar, click the Listen button. Click on the Career thoughts symbol and have computer read the words. Click the Listen button again to turn the Listen tool off.
      3. Record
        And, we can add to our diagrams and outlines by recording words and sounds. We click a symbol, go to the Tools menu, select Sound and Record.
        
        Select a symbol. Under the Tools menu, select Sound, and Record. Click the Record button and say a sentence. Click Stop and then Save.
      4. Audio Quick Control
        Once a sound is recorded, an Audio Quick Control appears on the symbol. Just click the Quick Control to play the sound.
        To turn off the audio tools, we return to the Utility menu.
        
        Click the Audio Quick Control. Play the recorded sentence. Under the Utility menu, select Application Properties. Clear the boxes for Listen Tool, Record Sound, and Talking Interface. Click OK.
  2. Importing Symbols
    At times, we may want to add graphics from outside sources to our project. We can copy and paste, drag and drop, or insert a new image into our work. Let's explore some of these options in this web site plan diagram.
    
    Open School Web Site Plan document.
    1. Insert Graphic
      As you can see, this diagram is a plan for a school web site. One of the symbols is labeled Visit Mr. Smith's inspired classroom. We can actually replace this symbol with a photo of Mr. Smith using the Insert Graphic command. Let's select the symbol we want to replace, go under the Edit menu, and select Insert Graphic. Now we just select the file to insert and click open. Because we had a symbol selected, the new image has replaced the existing shape.
      
      Select the Visit Mr. Smith's inspired classroom symbol. Under the Edit menu, select Insert Graphic. Navigate to the IS 7 Half Day Workshop folder, open the Graphics folder, and select Smith Photo .
    2. Drag and drop a graphic onto the diagram
      We can also drag and drop jpeg or gif graphic files into our diagram. Let's drag the Mane High School mascot, a roaring lion, into our diagram. The graphic is in a folder on our desktop, so we'll navigate there, and simply drag and drop the mascot image onto the workspace. We could also drag and drop images directly from the Internet into our diagrams and outlines.
      
      Adjust the size of the Inspiration window to make it smaller. Position the IS 7 Half Day Workshop/Graphics folder so it is visible on the desktop. Select the Mascot graphic and drag and drop it above the Mane High School symbol. Type Intro Page under the symbol and draw a link from the Mane High School symbol to the Mascot (This is important. If you draw the link from the Mascot to the Mane High School symbol, the mascot will become the new main idea.) Resize the Inspiration window to full size.
    3. New Symbol Library command
      Let's go ahead and create a new symbol library to save the symbols we're adding. To add a new symbol library, we select this option from the Utility menu. We can select the category where the library will appear, and then name our library. Let's name this one Web site. Once we click OK, our new library is visible.
      
      From the Utility menu, select New Symbol Library. Show the different library categories, but keep the selection at Custom Libraries. In the New Library Name box, type Web site.
    4. Install User Symbol command
      One way to add a new symbol to a library is to use the Install User Symbol command. With our imported Mascot graphic still selected, let's go under the Utility menu again, and select Install User Symbol. We get the option of installing new symbols at the standard symbol size or at actual size. When we click OK, the mascot becomes part of our Web site library.
      
      With the Mascot symbol still selected, from the Utility menu, select Install User Symbol. Select either Standard Symbol Size or Actual Size, and click OK.
    5. Drag and drop a graphic into a library
      A second way to add symbols to a library is to drag and drop them right onto the Symbol palette. Let's locate Mr. Smith's picture again and drag it onto the Symbol palette and drop it. Once again, when we click OK, our new symbol is saved in the library we created.
      
      Adjust the size of the Inspiration window again. From the IS 7 Half Day Workshop/Graphics folder, select the Smith Photo graphic and drag and drop onto the Symbol palette. Select either Standard Symbol Size or Actual Size, and click OK.
    6. Edit Symbol Libraries
      If necessary, it's easy to edit and tailor the symbol libraries to make them match our needs. The Edit Symbol Libraries command is also found under the Utilities menu. A link to an email address is common on a school web site, so let's add the Email symbol to our new library by navigating to the Technology/Wired library. Now we just drag the Email symbol into our new library.
      
      As you can see, all of Inspiration's symbols have labels. We can edit these labels, erase them, or add them to any new symbols. Let's label the mascot image. When we click OK, we return to the diagram.
      
      From the Utility Menu, select Edit Symbol Libraries. On the left side of the dialog box, the new Web site library appears. On the right side, scroll up to change the library to Technology/Computers. Drag the Email symbol onto the Web site library. Select the Mascot symbol. In the Label box, type Mascot .
  3. Exporting diagrams and outlines
    1. Options
      We can export our Inspiration project for use in a variety of other programs. To save a diagram as a graphic or image -- or even as HTML -- look to the File menu and select Export.
      
      From the File menu, select Export. Show the options and click Cancel.
      
      In Outline View, there are also a variety of export options.
    2. Diagram as HTML
      Diagrams and outlines can be saved as HTML as well. In Diagram View, we can choose to publish as a single web page by selecting Diagram, or we can plan and start building an entire web site using the Site Skeleton export. The Site Skeleton export instantly transforms our diagram into the foundation of a web site, complete with a clickable site map. Let's save this file to our desktop and click OK.
      
      From the File menu, select Export as HTML. Click Site Skeleton and Save. Save this file to the desktop.
      
      Now we'll move to the desktop and open this file in an Internet browser. The Site Skeleton export built a foundation for our web site, including a clickable site map.
      
      Double click the file to open it in an Internet browser. Click on Site Map link.
      
      Each symbol is now a separate page in the web site.
      
      Click the Student Center link.
      
      The notes text appears on the page corresponding to its symbol. And, all of the links are now hyperlinks between pages.
      
      Click on the Causes of the French Revolution link and then return to the Site Map.
      
      Hyperlinks we created to other web sites are also active.
      
      Show the hyperlink to www.visuallearning.com .
  4. Using the templates
    1. Open Template
      This web site diagram was actually created using one of Inspiration's 60-plus classroom-ready templates, which can be found under the File menu. These curriculum-aligned documents inspire classroom quick starts in language arts, social studies, science, planning, and thinking skills by helping educators quickly integrate visual learning and Inspiration into school projects. Ten new templates added as part of the spring 2003 update help support students in writing projects across the curriculum.
      
      Let's open the Language Arts—Book Comparison template. As we can see, each template comes with directions and benefits. Using an Inspiration template means we can quickly go from a diagram like this ... to a diagram like this.
      
      From the File menu, select Open Template. Open the Language Arts folder and select the Book Comparison template. Next, open the My Book Comparison file found in the IS 7 Half Day Workshop folder.
    2. Template Wizard
      Teachers can also create customized templates to use as a starting point for a special project or assignment. After creating a diagram or outline, the Template Wizard walks us step-by-step through saving the document as a template.
      
      With the My Book Comparison document still open, from the Utility menu, select Template Wizard. Walk through the steps of the Template Wizard.
  5. Conclusion
    Using Inspiration, we've seen how easy it is to create inspiring visual learning projects for all curriculum areas. As students work visually, they gain a deeper understanding of concepts, strengthen organizational skills, tap creativity, and develop very important critical thinking skills. By building a visual framework of ideas and information with Inspiration, students are able to expand their thinking while learning how to learn.
5. Additional good information to share
  1. Flashes
    If you've enjoyed seeing how Inspiration is used, you'll want to sign up for Flashes, the official newsletter of Inspiration Software. You can sign up for it at their web site -- www.inspiration.com .
  2. Achieving Standards with Inspiration 7
    Achieving Standards with Inspiration 7 offers practical, content-rich lesson plans for grades 6-12 in language arts, social studies, and science. Designed to address state and national standards, each lesson makes it easy for you to integrate visual learning activities into your teaching plans with confidence. Easily modify and customize each lesson to support your specific objectives and your individual teaching style.
    
    Find more information on Inspiration 7 resources here .
  3. Exploring Inspiration 7.5
    Exploring Inspiration 7.5 is an interactive training CD designed to make it fast, intuitive, and exciting to use Inspiration right from the start. You'll find step-by-step instruction, real-world teaching examples, and a helpful visual learning overview.
    
    Find more information on Inspiration 7 resources here .
  4. Purchasing information
    Inspiration comes on a hybrid CD-ROM for Windows and Macintosh in single copies and volume licenses for schools and districts. Volume licenses also have Teacher Take Privileges. That means that teachers can have copies of Inspiration installed at home for planning and training purposes. There are also upgrades available for those using previous versions of Inspiration.
  5. How to contact us
    Inspiration Software, Inc.
    7412 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy., Ste. 102
    Portland, OR 97225-2167
    
    www.inspiration.com
    sales@inspiration.com
    
    503-297-3004 or 800-877-4292
    503-297-4676 (Fax)