Inspiration
…a 16 minute trip
in 16 steps
Inspiration is a creative planning and
problem solving tool which can be used by anyone for many purposes. Recording
minutes from a meeting, planning session, web activity, brainstorming session,
or the creation of a concept map is instant as the activity progresses. Visual
diagrams as well as instant outlines are created by Inspiration.
Let’s Begin‑Open
Inspiration
1.
A blank screen will appear. Read and close the Tip of the Day.
Begin typing—you don’t even need to click the mouse—your main idea or main topic.
To get new objects on the screen:
• A new unconnected object can be created by
just clicking on the screen.
• Rapid-Fire allows for new objects to be
created by pressing the Enter (Enter on Macintosh also) key between topics.
• From the Button Bar at the top of the page,
select on the eight directional arrows from the Create button.
Let’s Try It!
2.
Open Inspiration. Read and close the Tip of the Day. Turn on Rapid
Fire from the Button Bar.
3.
Type a word (phrase) to be used as the Main Topic. Press Enter.
4.
Continue to type words or phrases representing the next level of
topics. Press Enter between each entry.
5.
Press Shift-Return or just click in “white space” to end the
rapid-fire entry.
6.
You
can also just click the mouse in white space (about two grid rows above or
three grid rows right) to create a stand alone symbol in which you can type.
Selecting, Moving, and Linking Objects
7.
Objects can be moved with the “click/drag” method once the object
is selected to make it active. Handles (red clear squares or diamonds) appear
around the object when it is active. 
8.
Multiple symbols can be selected by using the shift-click method.
Select several symbols and change the Basic
Shapes under the Symbol menu.
9.
Each object can have up to 32 links.
Instructional
implication:
Visual positioning through the relocation of the objects (symbols), as well as
the assignment of color, shape and size, allow a learner to see new
relationships and make new meanings. Concept mapping is an essential strategy
for concept formation.
Changing the Symbol for the Object
10.
The Symbol Palette, at the left of the screen (View -> Symbol
Palette) contains many symbols or pictures to replace the default blue oval
object. To change the shape of the object, click on it to make it active and
then click on a symbol from the palette. Many different palettes are available
by clicking the black arrows at the top of the Symbol Palette.
Instructional
implication: The
interpretation of thoughts are affected by the shape and color of the symbol. Experiment with the
different shapes to determine the appropriate container for your message.
Viewing the Project
11.
To zoom out (step back for a “bird’s eye”view of your document) or
zoom in for closeups, click on the “mountains” in the lower left corner of your
screen.. Use the big mountains to
zoom in and little mountains to zoom
out.
12.
Outline View: Change the symbol view into an
Outline by pulling down the View menu bar (or click on the Outline
button on the left of the Button Bar. Using Inspiration’s
outline makes adding, editing, revising, rearranging information easy to do.
• Add topics to the outline: Click the mouse just to the right of
the Main Topic. Select Add a Topic from the Outline menu.
• To
add a Subtopic, select the item
under which you would like a subtopic, and choose Insert Subtopic from the
Outline menu.
• Notes can be entered into the outline which are great for documenting
quick ideas or concepts. To add notes, click the mouse after the last word of a
topic and press the Enter (Return on the Macintosh) key.
• In
the Outline View, the file can be exported for use in Microsoft Word, Power
Point, or AppleWorks.
13.
Diagram View: To change back to the Diagram
view, select the Diagram icon on the Button Bar or from the View menubar,
select Diagram. Notice that all of the subtopics are now represented by
symbols. The notes are hidden, but can be easily seen by double clicking in the
upper left corner handle. If you get the message that your symbols may overlap,
just click Rearrange.
14.
To see the notes: Notice that the symbol under which notes were
typed now has a solid red “handle”
in the upper left corner. Double click on the red handle. Your notes will
appear in a text window. They can be edited and added to at this point.
·
In the diagram view, the image can be exported as a JPEG graphic
file.
For Fun ~ Create Your Own
Symbols
15.
First, you have to get some draw tools so that you can create your
own symbol. From the Utility menu
bar, choose Symbol and then slide
over to highlight the Draw Palette. Using
the Draw tools, create an original drawing. Group all of the objects together
that were used to create the drawing.
Creating New Levels
16.
There may be times when you want to create more depth to a topic
or subtopic. In Inspiration the main
or top level of the document is called the family
head. You may create a child
diagram or outline which is still a part of the family document but in its own
window. To open a child, select the
symbol from the main diagram by clicking on it to make it active. From the File menu, choose Open Child. There is now a new window for your “child” and it is
the main idea in this window.
What Next?
·
From the outline view, go File to Export and export this outline
as a word processing document (Microsoft Word or AppleWorks).
·
From the outline view, go File to Export and export this outline
as a PowerPoint presentation.
·
From the diagram view, go File to Export and export this diagram
as a .jpg picture or as an HTML (web) page.
Isn’t this a neat
program?
For ideas for using
Inspiration, please visit:
http://www.inspiration.com/productinfo/inspiration/using_insp/index.cfm
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/inspiration.htm
For extended instruction,
please visit: