InspireData+Overview

Overview
toc InspireData is the visual way to explore and understand data.

Students can use InspireData to formulate questions and interact with data in science, mathematics, and social studies. InspireData makes it possible to identify patterns, trends, and relationships, solve problems, and build conclusions, resulting in deeper content knowledge and stronger critical thinking skills.

1 The Starter Screen
The InspireData starter screen lets you quickly begin a new project, open over 100 content-rich and template databases, and download databases created by means of an e-Survey. You can also find additional resources to help you learn how to use InspireData, including lesson plans, analytical tools for educators, Learn to Use Handouts, classroom projects, and complete documentation.

[Image 1.1]

[Table 1.1]
 * ~ Click here... ||< [[image:Screen_shot_2010-10-04_at_11.40.52_PM.png width="81" height="87"]] ||< [[image:Screen_shot_2010-10-04_at_11.40.58_PM.png width="84" height="86"]] ||< [[image:Screen_shot_2010-10-04_at_11.41.07_PM.png width="92" height="86"]] ||< [[image:Screen_shot_2010-10-04_at_11.41.14_PM.png width="81" height="76" caption="Open"]] ||< [[image:Screen_shot_2010-10-04_at_11.41.26_PM.png width="87" height="81"]] ||
 * ~ ...to do this ||< View and choose from over 100 science, mathematics, social studies and more databases ||< Download results from an e-Survey ||< Create a new database ||< Open an existing database. Click the Open Recent Files button next to the Open button to view a list of recent files ||< View and choose from a list of included documentation, Classroom Projects, and more. ||

2 Views
Table View and Plot View are the working environments for InspireData.

2.1 Table View
In Table View you enter and record data. Use Table View to enter, import, and customize data elements to support classroom activities and experiments. You can switch to Plot View by clicking the button in the upper left-hand corner of Table View.

[Image 2.1.1]

2.2 Plot View
In Plot View, you analyze, manipulate and understand the data visually. Use Plot View to analyze data visually by creating and manipulating plots that illustrate trends and patterns. Notice that you can switch to Table View by clicking the button in the upper left-hand corner of Plot View.

[Image 2.2.1]

3 Presenting with a Slide Show
A Slide Show is a great way to document and present work. Each slide captures a "live" view of the data, which means that you can continue to change and work with the captured plots

3.1 Using the Slide Sorter
Open your document in **Plot View.** If you are in **Table View**, either click the Plot View button on the upper left-hand side of the window. On the bottom right-hand side of the window, click the **Slide Sorter** icon. Alternatively, if you are Table View, you can click **Slide Show** from the menu bar, and then select **Open Slide Sorter** from the drop-down menu. When there are multiple slides in the sorter, you can rearrange slides by dragging and dropping the slide in the desired place.

3.2 Capture a Slide
Click the **Capture Slide** button on the Slide Sorter. A new slide appears in the Slide Sorter.

3.3 Add Notes
To capture thoughts about the data and communicate findings, use notes. On the **Toolbar**, click the **Note** button. The //Notes area// appears at the bottom of your screen. Now type your comments about the slide.

4 Using Surveys and e-Surveys
InspireData's Survey and e-Survey features allow you to gather data using either an on-screen form or a web form. You create the questions you want answered. With an e-Survey, questions can be answered on any computer that is connected to the Internet. InspireData does not need to be installed to respond to an e-Survey.

Surveys and e-Surveys are especially useful when you have a group of people who aren't familiar with InspireData. People can enter data directly into your database by filling out the form. In either case, when a student completes the form, a new record with their data is added to your table. When an e-Survey has been completed by all the participants, you can download the entire database by clicking the e-Survey on the InspireData Starter screen. This is the survey, opened from **Table** > **Launch Survey** [Image 4.1]
 * With a Survey, you can set up one or more computers as survey stations and let students take turns answering questions.
 * With an e-Survey, you can publish you form with questions to the InspireData e-Survey website and have each person visit the website from any computer with internet access to fill out the form.

4.1 Import e-Survey results
To get the results from an e-Survey into your database, click the **e-Survey** button on the **Starter Screen** (as shown in Table 1.1 above and Image 4.1.1 below). [Image 4.1.1] Alternatively, you can go to **File** > **Open e-Survey Database**. Then type or paste in the Survey ID that was provided when you created the e-Survey. [Image 4.1.2] media type="youtube" key="GE5tPsM_238?fs=1" height="385" width="640"