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Iolaos Tutorial No. 1: Preparing Your First Teaching Materials on Iolaos (PC)

In this first tutorial, discover the 9 essential features you need to know to prepare your first teaching materials on Iolaos from your PC.

As a reminder, Iolaos is the PC whiteboard software distributed by Speechi. It enables teachers to prepare resources and teaching materials at home, then use them on the school’s interactive digital screen.

Contents

A quick overview of the Iolaos interface
1- Customize your Iolaos!
2- A must-know: the Properties Panel
3- Exit the software without closing it using the Desktop feature
4- Insert text
5- Insert images
6- Insert a video
7- Insert a PDF
8- Navigate and zoom within the slide
9- Add, delete, and move slides

A Quick Overview of the Iolaos Interface (↑)

1. Customize Your Iolaos! (↑)

Iolaos allows you to customize certain elements of the interface for your comfort or personal preferences:

Go to the Menu in the bottom left corner of the board.
Click the settings gear at the top right of the window.

→ Adjust:

The default background color
The software language
The text font, size, and color
Pen or finger writing color
Highlighter color
Toolbar theme

→ Save. The elements you customized will now appear as default each time you open Iolaos.

Some of these settings require restarting the software to take effect.

2. A Must-Know: The Properties Panel (↑)

Before diving into the basic features of Iolaos, you must understand the principle and functionality of the Properties Panel.

Access the panel by clicking the small arrow on the right side of the board.
It provides all adjustable settings for the selected element on the board (text, image, video, etc.).
If no element is selected, the panel shows settings for the background.

3. Exit the Software Without Closing It Using the Desktop Feature (↑)

Need to temporarily leave Iolaos to perform a search?

Click the Desktop button in the left menu to minimize the software.
You’ll be redirected to your PC desktop with a small toolbar visible.
Use the Iolaos icon to minimize or expand the toolbar.
Click the arrow at the far right of the toolbar to return to Iolaos.

4. Insert Text (↑)

Type Text

Click Tools in the central toolbar, then Text.
Place the cursor where you want, and type your text.

Format Text

To copy, cut, duplicate, or delete text, click the three dots.
For text formatting, click the three dots or use the Properties Panel.

5. Insert Images (↑)

Insert Your Images

Go to the Menu and click Insert Media.
Drag and drop your image from your file explorer.

Use the Image Bank

Click Tools, then Images.
Explore the 9 categories of images: general, celebrations, titles, nature, symbols, emojis, architecture, food, and sports.
Drag and drop your chosen image into the board.

6. Insert a Video (↑)

Embed a YouTube Link

Click Tools, then Embed videos.
Paste your YouTube link and click OK.
Move the video on the slide by dragging its edges.

Insert a Video File

Go to the Menu, then click Insert media.
Drag and drop the video file or click the upload icon.

Refresh YouTube Links

After reopening your Iolaos file, YouTube videos will display a red exclamation mark.

To refresh the video:

Open its Properties Panel.
Click “Apply.”

7. Insert a PDF (↑)

Click Menu → Open.
Select your PDF.

→ Each PDF page will appear on a separate slide. Scroll to view all pages.

8. Navigate and Zoom Within the Slide (↑)

Each Iolaos slide is an “infinite board”. How do you add content that goes beyond the slide’s default frame, and how do you navigate this extended slide?

Navigate and Zoom

Click the Zoom button in the central toolbar.
Use your mouse wheel to zoom in or out.
Move around the slide by holding the left mouse button and dragging.

Quick Navigation via Preview

Double-click the Zoom button in the toolbar.
A preview of the entire slide appears. Move the blue rectangle to navigate quickly.
Click the icon in the bottom right of the preview to return to default view.

→ Don’t forget to exit navigation mode by clicking the Selection button so that you can act again on the elements integrated into your slide.

9. Add, Delete, and Move Slides (↑)

Navigate Between Slides

Use the arrows at the bottom right of the board to scroll through the slides.
Click between the arrows to view all slides and jump directly to one.

Manage Slides

Click the + button to create a new slide.
Use the trash icon to delete a slide.
Click the button next to the trash icon to duplicate a slide.
Right-click and hold a slide to move it to a new position.

You’re now ready to create and format your first teaching materials on Iolaos with text, images, videos, and an infinite board! Stay tuned for more tutorials.