Webs
| Idea Maps | Concept Maps
| Links
| TechTips |
Customized Default Settings
Inspiration
7 has 63 templates in language arts, science, social studies, teacher
planning, and thinking tools. You are now able to connect to the
Internet directly from Inspiration, and display active hyperlinks. There
are over 1,250 symbols in the expanded and enhanced symbol libraries,
which included animated symbols as well. Inspiration 7 allows you to
drag and drop a graphic directly from another program or import directly
into the symbol libraries. After working in Inspiration to brainstorm,
organize, and outline, the new one-click transfer instantly opens
students' work in Microsoft® Word® where they're able to finish their
paper for publication.
Symbol Libraries
Click
here to download a PDF file that is a complete listing of the symbol
library in Inspiration 6.
Inspiration
7 Symbol Library pdf file can be downloaded by clicking here or
you can find it in the Inspiration Program files of your software under
Inspiration Documentation.
If
you have Inspiration 7.0 you should
click
here to find the download the 7.5 updater. This
free update adds the Transfer button to the Inspiration toolbar. Now, with
one click, users can transfer Inspiration projects to Microsoft® Word®
or AppleWorks®. In addition, 10 new templates support writing across the
curriculum. This update also includes improved graphics exporting, general
operational refinements, and enhanced overall performance.Webs
A
web is a visual map that shows how different categories of information
relate to each other. Webs are particularly useful as a brainstorming and
organizational tool for writing, as well as for analyzing stories and
characterization.
Idea
maps help students generate ideas and develop thoughts visually. They
are used for brainstorming and prewriting exercises and for producing
plans and solving problems.
Concept
maps graphically illustrate relationships between ideas. In a concept
map, two or more concepts are linked by words that describe their
relationship.
Inspiration
Links
- This page is filled with links to great websites with examples and ideas
using Inspiration in the Classroom.
These TechTips are for you to use in the Diagram View.
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From
the Main Idea Symbol, click the Rapidfire Button on the top
toolbar and type in a subcategory topic then hit Enter. This will
pop out your Subcategory Symbols. |
 From the Main Idea Symbol you can click the Create then a directional green dot, and you will create subtopic symbols in that direction. |
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| You can Drag and Drop symbols from the Symbol Palette anywhere you want in the Inspiration window and type in a subtopic label for it. | You can point and type anywhere in the Inspiration window and the default symbol will automatically appear. |
To create hyperlinks in an Inspiration diagram type the URL and hit the Enter key on your keyboard. The hyperlink becomes active. If you want just words to become a hyper link follow these steps:
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To insert a graphic from another source as a symbol, click [Edit] on the top Menu bar and then click "Insert Graphic". You can also insert the date by clicking "Edit" then "Paste Date". |
To move your diagram around in the Inspiration window click on the Position Tool on the bottom toolbar and then click and drag the diagram in the window. Don't forget to click off the Position Tool when you are finished. |
To
resize a symbol click and drag from any of the corner
handlebars.
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  Inspiration 6 - - - - Inspiration 7 |
 You can add Notes to an Inspiration symbol by clicking on the symbol and then clicking on the "Add Notes" button on the top toolbar. OR.... by double clicking on the top left hand handlebar surrounding the symbol. When your notes have been added that handlebar will be solid red in version 6 and a note icon in version 7, sending a signal that notes are attached. |
 Click the Spell Check button on the top toolbar and you will be able to help you in the diagram or outline mode. |
 The Zoom feature in the bottom left hand corner of the Inspiration screen allows you to zoom in and out on your diagram. Click on "Big Mountains" to zoom in and "Little Mountains" to zoom out. You can also click on the percent to zoom in and out. |
| To change existing symbols click on the symbol to get handlebars then click on the new symbol in the Symbol Palette that you want. |
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| To
establish links between two symbols click on the Link Tool on
the top toolbar then click on the first symbol and then the symbol
you want to draw the link to. To move the link to a different
position on the symbol just click and drag the tip of arrow to a
new spot on the symbol.
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Sometimes
you aren't able to get the link in the correct position on
the symbol. To give you more choices of spots to connect the link
follow these steps:
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| You can create link text between symbols by clicking on the link then typing in the link text box that pops up. The small black dot at the bottom of the link text box will allow you to click and drag the linktext box anywhere on the connecting link line. |
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You are able to format the link connectors by clicking on "Link" on the top Menu bar. Here you can chose between standard and auto links and curved or straight links. To make any changes in links you must have clicked on it to select it. |
| To change the color of the background on your Inspiration map click "Effect" on the top Menu bar then click "Background Color" and click the color you want. | To change the font, color, size, style, or to justify, click "Text" on the top Menu bar and then make your choice. Remember text must be selected before making changes. |
 The
Listen Tool is new in Version 7.5. To make the Listen Tool appear
on your top toolbar you should click "Utilities" then
"Application Properties" to make your choices. In this
box, put a checkmark in front of "Listen Tool" and/or
"Talking Interface" if your students need these options. |
 The user is able to record their voice in Inspiration 7 by clicking on "Tools" then "Sound" and using a microphone and the sound recorder. Once the sound is saved to that symbol, a small speaker symbol appears in the top right hand corner. |
| If you need help lining up the elements of your Inspiration map click "Tools" on the top Menu bar and then click "Grid Settings". Show Grid or Snap to Grid will make your symbols snap in place on the grid lines. If you want more freedom in placement of symbols click to take the checkmark off of "Grid Snap". |
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If you want to change the colors of a symbol click on it and then
click the Multicolor tool on the Draw toolbar at the bottom of the
screen. Now find the color you want to change and point to it and
then choose your new color. |
| You can save your Inspiration map as different kinds of files. On the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click "File" then "Export" and chose the file format you want... gif and jpeg are the two most common. You can even save it in HTML format (webpage). | To get your Inspiration map to print on one page go to "File]" on the top Menu bar and click "Page Setup" and make sure "Fit to One Page" is checked. This is the default in Version 7. You also have the option of Portrait or Landscape here. |
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