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2	Why Use Inspiration? The program and it’s components are easy to learn. It helps to organize thinking for those who think abstractly. It helps those who do not think abstractly find abstract connections. It allows teachers to assess knowledge of concepts with less paperwork. You can make flowcharts and timelines easily.
3	Rationale Visual learning techniques - graphical ways of working with ideas and presenting information - teach students to clarify their thinking, and to process, organize and prioritize new information. Visual diagrams reveal patterns, interrelationships and interdependencies. They also stimulate creative thinking. Inspiration provides the tools to allow users to create a picture of their own ideas or concepts in the form of a diagram to use in a thinking skills context Research in both educational theory and cognitive psychology tells us that visual learning is among the very best methods for teaching students of all ages how to think, and how to learn.
4	Visual learning techniques help students: Clarify thinking. Students see how ideas are connected and realize how information can be grouped or organized. With visual learning, new concepts are more thoroughly and easily understood. Reinforce understanding. Students recreate, in their own words, what they've learned. This helps them absorb and internalize new information, giving them ownership of their ideas. Integrate new knowledge. Diagrams updated throughout a lesson prompt students to build upon prior knowledge and internalize new information. By reviewing diagrams created previously, students see how facts and ideas fit together. Identify misconceptions. Just as a concept map or web shows what students know, misdirected links or wrong connections reveal what they don't understand. http://www.inspiration.com/vlearning/index.cfm
5	Why?
6	When you work with visual representations of ideas: Easily see how one idea relates to another Learning and thinking become active Find gaps in knowledge Recall the details better Clarifies thinking
7	What’s New in 7.5 One-click transfer Visually integrated notes Enhanced hyperlinking Audio capabilities Multiple main ideas and ‘undo’ levels
8	Uses Brainstorming KWL Charts Pre-Writing Research Paper Planning Concept Mapping And.... And.... And...
9	Inspiration in the classroom Students learn to: Brainstorm Clarify thinking Expand their thinking Generate new ideas Break concepts and ideas down Develop their thoughts visually Plan Gather ideas Organize thinking and research
10	Students can use Inspiration for: Pre-writing tasks Story composition Story analysis (story maps) Character analysis Research Comparisons (Venn Diagram) Concept map Goal setting KWL All KLAs…
11	Planning with Inspiration Inspiration makes planning easy and productive, with a visual approach to brainstorming and organizing for teachers. Inspiration can be used to plan lessons, units, projects, and class activities. The Template Wizard gives teachers step-by-step help to create customized visual learning activities to support any curriculum area.
12	Inspiration’s Two Views Inspiration has two main views or environments: Diagram View- create visual diagrams such as concept maps, idea maps, webs, storyboards Outline View- organise written documents, speeches, reports or plans by providing a framework for ideas, order the flow of the information and structure paragraph detail and contents
13	Brainstorming
14	Outline View
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19	Working in Outline View
20	Adding a Note in Outline View
21	Reorganizing your Topics
22	Paragraphs
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25	Arrangement of Diagram
26	Symbols Palette
27	Symbols Palette Continued
28	Symbols Palette Continued 2
29	Position of Diagram
30	Spell Check
31	Style Formatting
32	Using Templates
33	Using Templates (Continued)
34	Creating Custom Templates
35	Creating Custom Templates (Continued)
36	Creating Custom Templates (Continued 2)
37	Let’s Go! Create a web about FOOD Open Inspiration from the start menu Set up the look of your web using Diagram Properties (file) Add main idea and headings Use Rapid Fire (lightning bolt on tool bar or F9) Change layout- mouse click and drag Add symbols (symbol library) Color code (effects, fill colour)
38	It’s still your turn… You may like to: Plan a unit Plan a lesson Design a worksheet Use a template Create a concept map Brainstorm with a partner Visit the Inspiration site for more ideas at www.inspiration.com
39	Thank you for attending!