1. Middle School Grades 6-8 Advanced Features of Inspiration

2. Focusing Questions What is the purpose of the advanced features in Inspiration? How can I insert graphics into my graphic organizer? What are some advantages to the advanced features?

3. Instruction

4. Framing The Session In this session, we will discover the benefits of adding graphics to your graphic organizer in Inspiration. In the past, we discovered that Inspiration allowed us to organize our ideas. It was a great way to make a visual outline with our computer. Now, we will add graphics and make notes on our links. This will improve our graphic organizer and make them presentable for the class.

5. Teaching Watch me as I show you how to insert graphics. Notice, it is as simple as a few clicks of the mouse. The rapid fire button is also a great tool. You can produce quickly many bubbles with ideas. This saves you time from individually creating each bubble and linking it to the main idea. The add note in link feature is terrific because it allows us to demonstrate the flow of information from one bubble to the next.

6. Guided Practice Now it is your turn to try. I want you to make graphic organizer that includes the following: One main idea Three subtopics using quickfire Each bubble should have a graphic One of the three bubbles should have a custom bubble related to your theme.

7. Work Time

8. Getting Started Take the next 20 minutes to complete the graphic organizer as outlined below.. Participants will... Inserting Graphics Step 1 – Click on bubble Step 2- Select a graphic on the tools menu Step 3- Click top arrows to select different graphics To insert custom graphics Step 1- Go to Top Menu – Edit Step 2- Select Insert Graphic- Select graphic- Click Open Step 3- Drag graphic borders with mouse to resize

9. Work Time Rapid Fire Button Step 1- Type an idea in a bubble. Step 2- Click the rapid fire button on the lower top menu Step 3- Type another idea Step 4- Click enter Step 5- Repeat the process until all topics are complete Add note on Link Step 1- Click on actual link- text box will appear Step 2- Type in box Step 3- Click outside of box

10. Share

11. Ask selected participants to share particularly good examples of their work. Lead a discussion about how this work addresses the focusing questions. Share

12. Inspiration is a great way to improve our graphic organizers. Many of students here have attractive, original diagrams that really illustrate their ideas. Share

13. How does this work address the questions that began the session? The advanced features simplify the task of creating a graphic organizer. They also make the graphic organizer more visually attractive. Inserting graphics into inspiration can be done through the top menu or the side toolbar. Advanced features make our graphic organizers more personal and allow us to present a clear, coherent theme.