Graphically and spatially displayed text tool: Belvedere Inquiry Diagrams

Belvedere Inquiry Diagram is designed to help express graphically how ideas are connected. When an individual is trying to solve a problem or explain something, Belvedere can help keep track of own as well as other people's ideas by allowing them to be mapped out graphically. Belvedere can also aid in figuring out whether there is more information needed to strengthen or complete an idea. Making a diagram (concept map) of an argument can help in seeing the "big picture" out of the details. The system allows for 2 kinds of files to be made - 

• New Collaborative Investigation for diagrams stored on the server and available to others. It allows for collaborative building of the diagram.
• New Private Investigation for diagrams stored on your computer and available only to you or other users of your computer. This allows for development of personal concept maps.

Suthers (1998) believes that these inquiry diagrams are useful for summarizing the overall trends in a multifaceted debate. The visual depiction of ideas and relationships helps participants visualise the abstract ideas. The act of creating the diagrams leads to explanations and reflection on one's ideas.

Learning within Belvedere inquiry diagram

The task of constructing an inquiry diagram encourages individuals to work together, thereby allowing them to form a community of learners. The activity of constructing a shared diagram leads to valuable negotiations of meaning and collaboration plus scaffolding. Participants can switch between working on private and collaborative diagrams with little effort and without losing track of what they are doing, because the diagram keeps track. Since both the computer and the teacher can see what the participants are thinking, and provide appropriate feedback, the map also plays an evaluative role.  They can view their diagram as a graph, matrix or hierarchy as each view supports students' learning in different ways. (Suthers, 2001)

The file is opened with the research question identified with the title of problem statement just under the tool bar. The tool bar itself has all the basic commands in forms of shapes - data, hypothesis, for and against links, and the coach. The large white space is the part of the window where the diagram will be displayed. At the very bottom of the diagram window is another rectangular bar called the message bar where the software gives instructions and messages. Sometimes Belvedere will pop up a small box on the screen, called a dialogue box, to give a message. When Belvedere needs to ask for some information in order to complete an action, then the dialogue box will display some questions for the participant to answer or some areas to fill in.

When one clicks on a statement button such as Data or Hypothesis, in the tool bar, a dialogue box appears, where one types a Statement Summary which will appear in the diagram. By clicking on the Comments tab at the top, further comments (not displayed) can be added on the statement. When entering information in complete, click on the "Add to Investigation" button at the bottom of the box for it to appear on the map at the point you choose. Connections in the form of for or against links can also be drawn from a shape to or from another link, as well as from a link to another link. Editing for shapes and connection is also possible within the software.

While viewing or constructing an inquiry diagram, the participants can consult Belvedere's online Coach for ideas or suggestions on what to consider next. Frequently the Coach will highlight certain statements or relations in the diagram when presenting a suggestion, to point out the elements of the diagram the suggestion refers. When the Coach runs out of new suggestions to give, the button in the tool bar will turn off. Participants may still consult the coach at any time, but its ideas will not be new.

Belvedere Inquiry Diagram and Advice from Suthers et al (1997)