Jeff Paul
Coordinator of Educational Technology
Lenawee ISD
jpaul@mail.lisd.k12.mi.us
http://edtech.lisd.k12.mi.us
Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
Table of Contents
Overview ................................................................................................................................. 4
What is Kidspiration? .................................................................................................................................. 4
Who should use Kidspiration? ................................................................................................................... 4
Is Kidspiration simple to learn? ................................................................................................................ 4
Formatting ............................................................................................................................ 11
To Change the Font .................................................................................................................................. 11
To Change the Font Size .......................................................................................................................... 11
To Change the Font Style ......................................................................................................................... 11
To Change the Arrowhead Style .............................................................................................................. 11
To Change the Line Thickness ................................................................................................................. 11
To Change the Colors ................................................................................................................................ 11
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Produced by Jeff Paul, Coordinator of Educational Technology
2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
This document may be reproduced in its entirety for non-profit educational purposes.
Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
Audio Features .................................................................................................................... 12
Listen Tool ................................................................................................................................................. 12
Recording a Sound or Voice ...................................................................................................................... 12
Talking Interface ...................................................................................................................................... 12
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2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
This document may be reproduced in its entirety for non-profit educational purposes.
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Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
Overview
What is Kidspiration?
Kidspiration is a visual learning tool that facilitates brainstorming sessions, discussions, and information
organization. Kidspiration may be used to create concept maps, idea maps, webs, groupings, storyboards,
and flow charts. It can instantly switch between picture (visual) and writing (text) modes, allowing different
ways to view and construct information.
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Produced by Jeff Paul, Coordinator of Educational Technology
2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
This document may be reproduced in its entirety for non-profit educational purposes.
Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
Getting Started
The Starter Window
When Kidspiration is started, the first window to appear is the Starter Window. From this window,
you may select a template document from the Activities section, open a saved file using the Open
button, or begin a new document in either Picture View or Writing View.
Saving Your Own Templates
If you create a template document and would like to make it easily accessible for your students, you
may save it as an activity. This places it within one of the categories in the Activities section. For
example, if you have a water cycle diagram template, you could save it in the Science section so that
students would find it there.
To save Kidspiration documents as template activities, go to the TEACHER menu and select Save
as Activity...
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2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
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Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
Creating a Diagram
Tools
Diagram Toolbar
Contains the tools for creating symbols, links, and groups. Place the mouse pointer on a tool and
a pop-up box displays its name.
Formatting Toolbar
Contains the tools for modifying the text font, font size, and formatting.
Symbol Palette
Contains a library of shapes for use as symbols in the diagram. The blue
arrows navigate to the next and previous symbol sets. The orange arrow
displays all of the symbol categories available.
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2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
This document may be reproduced in its entirety for non-profit educational purposes.
Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
To Add Unconnected Symbols
Symbols may be added in a number of ways. Symbols may always be manipulated after their creation, so there is no single correct way to create symbols.
Ways to Create New Symbols:
4. Drag and drop a graphic from another program, such as an Internet browser.
To Add Connected Symbols
Click on an existing symbol in the diagram to select it. Then click on the Add Symbol tool. A new
symbol appears and is connected to the selected symbol.
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2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
This document may be reproduced in its entirety for non-profit educational purposes.
Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
Manipulating Symbols
Click on a symbol to select it. A selected symbol will be surrounded by
square-shaped handles. You may enter text in the box below the
symbol. Kidspiration will automatically fill in the name of the object if
it is empty and you switch to the Writing View, provided that the
Picture-to-Topic option under the TEACHER menu is checked.
Example Symbol
To Select Multiple Symbols
Hold the Shift key while selecting symbols.
To Select All Objects, Symbols or Links
Go to the EDIT menu and select Select All to select everything in the diagram.
To Move a Symbol
Click and drag a symbol to move it around the diagram. Links are redrawn automatically.
To Resize a Symbol
Select a symbol. Click and drag any of the handles to scale the object. Hold the Command
or Option keys for proportional scaling. The Shift key will preserve one of the dimensions
(i.e. stretch the width without changing the height).
To Delete a Symbol
Select a symbol and press the Backspace or Delete key. This removes the symbol and any
links to it.
To Change a Symbol
Select a symbol, then click on a new symbol design in the Symbol Palette.
To Change the Formatting
See the Formatting section for information on changing the font and colors.
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2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
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Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
Links
To connect symbols, use the Link tool. Links are represented by arrows, and include a text box for supplying information that may clarify the relationship between two ideas.
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2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
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Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
SuperGrouper
In addition to concept maps, Kidspiration allows for symbols to be grouped into
categories using the SuperGrouper tool. Click on the SuperGrouper tool and select
one of the containers from its menu. You may select as many containers as you
need for the activity.
A text field is provided at the top of the SuperGrouper container for a title.
To resize the container, select it with the mouse and then drag
one of the four handles (corner points).
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2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
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Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
Formatting
The Formatting Toolbar provides the tools for changing the font, font size, and font style, and the
colors of the symbols and links.
Font
Font
Styles
Font
Size
Arrowhead
Style
Line
Thickness
Colors
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2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
This document may be reproduced in its entirety for non-profit educational purposes.
Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
Audio Features
Kidspiration includes three forms of audio support that provide the capabilities to
record sounds and to read text using a computerized voice. These tools benefit
emerging readers and writers by providing alternative ways for them to record their
ideas and to comprehend information.
Listen Tool
The Listen tool will read aloud text on the screen using a computerized voice. Click on the
Listen tool to turn it on. It will be highlighted when active. Click on a symbol or link that
contains text and it will be read aloud. Click the Listen tool again to turn it off.
To change the computerized voice, go to the SOUND menu and select the Voices option.
Talking Interface
The Talking Interface option uses a computerized voice to speak the names of all
Kidspiration tools and symbols in the symbol palette when the mouse is placed over one of
these items. This is designed to aid students in locating the tools and symbols. To enable or
disable this feature, go to the TEACHER menu, select Application Options, and check the
Talking Interface option.
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2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
This document may be reproduced in its entirety for non-profit educational purposes.
Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
Writing View
Overview
The Writing View offers a more structured format for viewing content. To switch
from Picture View to Writing View, click on the Go to Writing tool.
The Writing View is like a traditional hierarchical outline made up of index cards. The main idea is
at the top of each card (pink line), and additional text may be typed in on the blue lines. Pressing
the Return key will add more blue lines to the card.
If you switch to Picture View, only the main idea will be displayed on the symbol.
Writing Tools
Changing the Colors of the Lined Paper
To change the paper line colors, go to the GOODIES menu and select the Lined Paper Colors
option. A pop-up window will appear in which you may change all of the colors associated with the
index cards.
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Produced by Jeff Paul, Coordinator of Educational Technology
2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
This document may be reproduced in its entirety for non-profit educational purposes.
Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
Kidspiration Menus
The Kidspiration manual describes all of the menu commands, and all commands are described in the
online help. This section briefly lists all of the menu commands for reference.
File
New, Open, Save, Print, Page Setup, Quit -- same as in other applications.
Import a Graphic -- allows you to bring in a copy of a picture from another file to use as a symbol.
Export -- saves the diagram or outline in different file formats, including GIF image and HTML. In
Writing View, you may export to a text file in different formats.
Edit
Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo, Select All -- same as in other applications.
View
Background Color -- selects a new color for the screen background.
Lined Paper Color -- selects colors for the lined paper in Writing View.
Spell Check -- checks the spelling.
Sound
Record -- opens up a recording window for recording your voice or other sound input.
Erase -- removes the recorded sound from the selected object.
Voices -- select a different computer voice for the Listen tool and Talking Interface.
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2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
This document may be reproduced in its entirety for non-profit educational purposes.
Kidspiration
May 1, 2001
Teacher
Enable Teacher Menu -- must be checked to access other TEACHER menu items.
Save As Activity... -- used to save the current document into the template Activities. Students may
then easily access the documents from the Starter Window.
Save Default Settings... -- change the default settings such as the symbol shape, colors, and options.
URL Hyperlink... -- create a link to a web site.
Picture-to-Topic -- when selected, the names of the symbols is automatically inserted after switching
to the Writing View.
New / Edit Symbol Library -- create custom symbol sets.
Application Options -- set preferences for your Kidspiration session.
Help
Kidspiration Help -- access the online searchable manual.
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Produced by Jeff Paul, Coordinator of Educational Technology
2001 Lenawee Intermediate School District
This document may be reproduced in its entirety for non-profit educational purposes.