Inspiration Tutorial

The following tutorial will show you step by step how to use Inspiration to create the "What I did on summer vacation" project.

Remember though...once again you can apply what you learn to many other types of projects, links to examples will appear at the bottom of this tutorial.

Using Inspiration...How To:

Double Click on the Inspiration Icon on the desktop

The program automatically opens to the Diagram View

Entering your main idea...

To enter your main idea all you have to do is start to type…the main idea symbol is already selected in the center of your screen.

Press Shift+Enter to finish

· Save your work (notice that when you select SAVE from the file menu, Inspiration has already given your project the same name as the Main Idea, all you have to do is decide where to save your work)

We are going to create an Idea Map...an Idea Map is a visual brainstorming technique to help get down those ideas and details...

Notice I typed my main idea "Summer Vacation"...but I did a few other things to make it look a little different...

I pressed the F8 key and the Symbol Bar Appeared
While the oval main idea symbol was still selected (it has little boxes around it for sizing), I clicked on the rectangle box on the Symbol Bar...now my main idea oval is a rectangle.
You can also make the symbol bigger...click on the symbol until the small boxes and diamonds appear. Click on the corner and drag. You can also click on the symbol and drag it to any location on the screen.
Next to change the color of the box (while the box is still selected) go to the bottom of the screen, you will see a gray bar. There are three oblong shapes, the first has an X in it...this is the revert tool, the next one is your FILL tool. Click on it and select a color for your box.
To change the font, go to FORMAT on the top toolbar and change the FONT, and SIZE or on that same tool bar at the bottom of the page you can select the font style and size. I selected Bookman Old Style, size 18 font.

Adding Ideas to Your Diagram

· Let’s Say Summer Vacation is your main idea, to add a new linked idea click on Create in the tool bar at the top of the screen. It places a new oval symbol on the page...to move it just click and drag.

Using the Rapid Fire Tool...it looks like a lightening bolt

With "Places to Visit" Selected, click on the Rapid Fire tool. A little RED lightening bolt appears in the box. Now type NORTH and hit enter, when you do, the program creates a symbol for you automatically...now type SOUTH...enter, EAST...enter, WEST....enter. Can you see the benefit ...Now that's a BRAINSTORM!.

Making a few more changes...

You can move the symbols around just by clicking on them and dragging them. If you click on the little hand symbol the entire diagram moves at once.
You can also select the ARRANGE TOOL on the top of the screen and select a pattern for your diagram.
To change the colors of several symbols all at the same time, just click on one symbol, and then while holding down the shift key select the others. Go to the bottom tool bar and click on the FILL TOOL. When you pick a color all of the symbols you selected will change.
You can also change the color of the link lines or arrows. Just go to Edit, Select, Links and then go down to the bottom toolbar again. Select the line color tool to the right of the fill tool and the color you want. All of the links will change.
P.S. Notice, by using the arrow keys on the symbol bar, I added a cute little car symbol for my Main Idea

By using the techniques you have learned you can pretty much complete your Idea Map.

Use the Rapid Fire Tool for each region...North, South, East, and West.
Add a few pictures by clicking on the screen in the location you would like the picture, then selecting the picture from the symbol library...many of them even move when you play the INSPIRATION program, you can even select the symbol and copy paste from the web (don't forget to give credit), or import a picture from a file.

Now your Idea Map Looks like this...

Hyperlinking to the WEB! Now this is COOL!

Select a TOPIC symbol...I choose DISNEY. Highlight the word inside the symbol. Go to the toolbar and select the Hyperlink symbol

This box appears...

Type in the address, or copy and paste it in the box. Click OK...The nice thing is that this creates a FUN, yet SAFE way to enjoy the web!

Old MacDonald's Farm...an inspiring matching activity