Grand Valley State University Disability Support Resources

Guide to Assistive Technology

GVSU Inspiration 8.0 Quick Reference Guide Prepared by Jeff Sykes, Assistive Technology Coordinator, Disability Support Resources

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Inspiration 8.0 by Inspiration Software is a graphical organizer software package designed so users can link ideas and concepts through a diagram, and produce a finished writing assignment or other project. The software creates a traditional outline view from the information in diagram view, and allows the addition of graphics, hyperlinks, and text and voice notes. The diagram and outline views are linked, so updates made in one view are reflected in the other. Inspiration can be used to assist students in organizing and prioritizing concepts and ideas. In this way Inspiration can be very helpful as a note taking and study tool. Inspiration includes over 65 templates designed to guide students with topic-specific projects and study material. Topics range from instructional templates useful to teachers for lesson plan design, to templates designed to help students organize material in areas on language arts, sciences, social studies, and general study skills. Inspiration is designed to support learning through a visual, graphical interface. Accessibility features include both a spoken interface and the ability to listen to the text in a project. Both of the features are enabled in the Inspiration software available in the GVSU computer labs. Not all Inspiration tools and functions are available from the keyboard. This is a quick reference guide to Inspiration 8.0, and is not intended as a comprehensive user manual. The Inspiration software includes training videos and tutorials. This quick reference guide addresses common tasks in Inspiration, and lists keyboard hotkey commands when available. To start Inspiration on a home computer, double-click the Inspiration 8 desktop icon.

To launch Inspiration using keyboard commands, press the Windows key, Press R, and type C:\program files\inspiration 8\Insp8.exe in the Run Dialog box.

To start Inspiration in the GVSU lab environment using a mouse, open the Applications folder on the desktop, and then open the Assistive Technology folder. Double-click on the Inspiration 8.0 icon. When Inspiration launches the user is presented with five choices:

1. Diagram – opens Inspiration in Diagram View. Users can begin a new project by brainstorming ideas, or linking related topics.

2. Outline – opens Inspiration in Outline View. Users can begin a new

project by organizing topics in a traditional outline.

3. Open File – opens an existing project.

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4. Templates – opens a list of predefined templates. Online templates will be available unless restricted in Inspiration’s preferences.

5. Learn to Use – Allows users to access documentation, examples,

curriculum guides, and training videos. Curriculum guides and videos are online resources that will be available unless restricted in Inspiration’s preferences.

The training videos are an invaluable resource for leaning to use Inspiration. The QuickTime Player must be installed on the computer in order to view the videos. The most current version of QuickTime can be downloaded for free at http://www.apple.com/quicktime

Quick Tutorial This tutorial illustrates the use of Inspiration to connect ideas and create an outline during the early stages of a writing project.

• Launch Inspiration and begin a new project by selecting diagram view. Inspiration will prompt for a main idea.

• Enter a main idea, for example, Airplanes.

• Click on the Create button to add a subtopic, for example, Aviation History.

• Click in Airplanes and click the Create button again to add a additional subtopic, for example, Military Aircraft.

• Repeat this action to add additional subtopics, for example, Commercial Aircraft and Civilian Aircraft.

Notice each subtopic is linked to the main idea by an arrow. Supporting information can be added to each subtopic.

• Supporting subtopics are added by selecting the subtopic to be supported, and clicking the Create button. For example, Wright Brothers and Howard Hughes can be added under Aviation History.

• Add “Wright Brothers” and Howard Hughs” (intentionally misspelled) as supporting topics.

• Notes can be added to any topic by selecting the topic, clicking the Note button, and typing the note text. Notes can be hidden for diagram clarity by clicking the small X in the upper left-hand corner of the note window.

• Enter “Flown by the British and Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII” as a text note attached to Spitfire, and “First long range commercial jet” as a text note under Boeing 707.

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Example in Diagram View

Inspiration creates an outline based on the information entered in the diagram. The two views are linked. Any changes made in one view will be reflected in the other.

• Click on the Outline button to switch to the Outline View

• Correct the spelling error in Howard Hughes’ last name - change “Hughs” to “Hughes”

• Toggle to the diagram view by clicking on the Diagram button. Notice the spelling has been corrected in the diagram view.

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Example in Outline View

Notes can be added in the outline view.

• Add the following information:

• Under Wright Brothers add “First successful powered airplane flight December 14, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.”

• Under F-14 Tomcat add “Decommissioned in September 2006 due to high amount of required maintenance. Replaced by F-18 Hornet”

• Click on the Diagram View button to toggle to the Diagram View

• Notice the small icon to the upper right of the topic Wright Brothers. This indicates a note has been added. Click this icon to expand and view the note. Do the same to view the note added to the topic F-14 Tomcat.

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Example in Diagram View showing added information

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The project can be exported into Microsoft Word or AppleWorks by clicking the Transfer button. The outline, or both the diagram view and the outline view can be exported. The document can be further edited into a rough draft, and finally to a finished draft.

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Inspiration can used to support learning in any subject area Inspiration can also be used to organize information. Inspiration includes over 65 templates designed to guide students with topic-specific projects and study material. Topics range from instructional templates useful to teachers for lesson plan design, to templates designed to help students organize material in areas on language arts, sciences, social studies, and general study skills. View of Inspiration opened using the Templates option. Some of the study and planning templates are listed. Select a template and then click on the Open button.

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View of the Assignment Plan template.

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Fill in the information.

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View in outline view, edit further if desired.

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Accessibility configuration Inspiration installations in GVSU computer labs include all accessibility options. Personal Inspiration installations must be configured for accessibility.

• Open the Utility menu and select Preferences (Alt-U + R)

• Select Audio from the list of preferences

• Check the checkboxes for Listen Tool and Talking Interface (A, L, T)

Reference Information

View of Inspiration opened with a new project in diagram view.

The Inspiration diagram view toolbar consists of nine or ten buttons, depending how accessibility options are configured. The Listen button is an accessibility option which must be activated in order to be available on home installations of Inspiration. In the GVSU labs all accessibility options are available. The Outline button toggles to the outline view of the project. Hotkey: Alt-V + O

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The Rapid-fire tool allows a user to quickly add a series of ideas that are linked to one symbol, or ideas that are not linked. Hotkey: Alt-S + E The Create tool is used to add a linked symbol, or several linked symbols one at a time. The Link tool is used to create links between ideas. The Arrange tool allows the user to “clean up” a document and arrange the concepts in and organized fashion. Choices include Tree, Web, and Split Tree. Additional options allow for direction, and auto-arrangment. Hotkeys: Alt-S + R opens the Arrange submenu. T – Tree W – Web S – Split tree A – Auto-arrange M – opens the Arrange property sheet with additional options, such as tree direction, lowest level symbol arrangement, link styling The Note tool allows a user to add text notes to an idea. This tool is available only when an a symbol is selected. Text notes can be visible or made invisible. The Hyperlink tool allows a user to link a web page address, email, file, or new Inspiration document to an idea. Hotkey: Alt-T + Y + I The Word Guide tool opens the integrated dictionary and thesaurus. Hotkey: Alt-T + W The Transfer tool transfers the Inspiration document into Microsoft Word or AppleWorks. Hotkey: Alt-F + W

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The Listen tool allows text within the Inspiration document to be voiced out loud by the computer. Text voicing begins when a block of text is selected. The Listen tool allows text within the Inspiration document to be voiced out loud by the computer. Text voicing begins when a block of text is selected. If the Listen tool is not visible, it can be made available by setting Inspiration accessibility preferences.

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View of Inspiration opened with a new project in outline view.

The Inspiration outline view toolbar consists of nine or ten buttons, depending how accessibility options are configured. The Listen button is an accessibility option which must be activated in order to be available on home installations of Inspiration. In the GVSU labs all accessibility options are available.

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The Diagram button toggles to the outline view of the project. Hotkey: Alt-V + D The Topic button adds a new topic at the current hierarchy level. Hotkey: Alt-O + A, or Control-G The Subtopic button adds a new subtopic one hierarchy level below the current level. Hotkey Alt-O + K, or Control K The Left and Right buttons move the selected topic up or down one level. The Note tool allows a user to add text notes to an idea. This tool is available only when an a symbol is selected. Text notes can be visible or made invisible. The Hyperlink tool allows a user to link a web page address, email, file, or new Inspiration document to an idea. Hotkey: Alt-T + Y + I The Word Guide tool opens the integrated dictionary and thesaurus. Hotkey: Alt-T + W The Transfer tool transfers the Inspiration document into Microsoft Word or AppleWorks. Hotkey: Alt-F + W The Listen tool allows text within the Inspiration document to be voiced out loud by the computer. Text voicing begins when a block of text is selected. If the Listen tool is not visible, it can be made available by setting Inspiration accessibility preferences.