EyeWrite
Visual Planning Software

10. Creating Hyperlinks

The benefit of links

Teachers or learners who are using EyeWrite to plan an essay, report, presentation, lesson or scheme of work will want the Concept Map to contain the structure and shape for the final product. The benefit of the link facility is that it enables users to attach a link with some kind of further information that it would be impossible or inappropriate to include on the Map itself.

Images

Learners or teachers may want to use their Concept Map as the basis for a presentation, talk or lesson plan. Some of the key words that will be referred to may be enhanced by the use of an image (e.g. photograph from a field trip). The thumbnail images brought into the image library and dragged onto the screen to illustrate the Map will not be large enough to be seen by the audience in the presentation, but it is easy to Create a Hyperlink to a high resolution version of the image.

Digital video

Hyperlinks can also be made to digital video clips. EyeWrite makes use of Windows Media Player and Real Player, and any video clip that will run on a computer can be linked to the Map. Some subjects will have their own libraries of digital video and these can be a source for learners and teachers. Many learners with cameras on their mobile phones will be able to make links, but the resolution of the resulting link video will probably be very poor. Digital cameras will be a better source of video clips and will provide a stunning resource for users who want to use a video clip in their presentation, talk or lesson. Practical lessons in a wide range of subjects can be filmed, visits and field trips can be recorded and local sites can become ‘resources’ for the learner and for the teacher. Once linked, access is just a quick click away.

Links to the web

Learners or teachers may find that links to the web may be of use on occasions. Learners planning a talk or presentation may have website images, video clips or references (e.g. Geography Field Trip or a practical activity) that would enhance the experience of the audience...

Links to sounds or music

Users can also make links to sound files, music or voice recordings. This would be particularly useful for a learner who was planning a presentation on a particular genre in music. The Concept Map may identify the names of particular musicians, artists or genres and the link can be used to bring in examples of the music concerned as the talk or presentation proceeds. The link can also be to sound effects. For example, in a creative writing activity the free sound effects libraries on the web will allow the downloading of wav files that can be saved in an appropriate folder and used as a link in the introduction to the topic or the learner presentations that precede the writing.

Links to voice files

Learners and teachers in a variety of situations may find it useful to record their own voice files to use as links on the Map. For example:

Students in Modern Foreign languages might want to record a short conversation or description that would enhance their presentation.

Support teachers might want to record some guidance to accompany a particular key word on a Concept Map being used independently by learners.

Teachers planning a Concept Map for Revision purposes might record some guidance on particular words or ideas. Such a Revision Map placed on the intranet would provide opportunities for independent study. In some schools Sixth Form Students prepare such revision units for younger students, and the use of EyeWrite would facilitate this.

Links to text files

Many learners or teachers in a range of subjects may want to provide a link to text documents that can be opened to support the work in progress. Such documents might include:

• Evidence
• Examples of the issue in question
• References for a key idea in an essay that the learner wants to refer to at that point in the planning.

Tutorial 10 Creating Hyperlinks

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