Search This Blog

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Infographics in the Classroom

One concept being discussed among tech integration folks right now is the creation and use of "infographics".    What is an infographic?  Well, for visual learners they are a dream-come-true!  An infographic is a visual representation that uses data, text and images to explain complex information quickly and clearly.

Long story short, it's a different way to present information when researching that relies on visualization instead of text. Students begin by picking a topic - think thesis statement or process they want to explain.

Research is key and subjects/sources have to be completely vetted before creating an infographic.  In addition, all information used to create one must be cited. This is where the most time is spent when creating an infographic, and rightly so.  When the information has been gathered, the student creates a storyboard or framework for their final project.  They gather images, create charts and graphs and think in terms of mood and tone before they create their product.  It's an interesting and engaging way for students and teachers to share large pieces of information.
As I said earlier, this is a dream-come-true for visual learners - heck for all of us.  Think about yourself and the way you learn best.  When you are gathering information, do you like a) text, b) images, c) graphs and charts, or d) all of the above.  Did you answer "d"?  I know I did and most of the students I taught would have, too.  That's what an infographic can give you and your students.  An "all of the above" approach to add to your toolbox of presentation methods.    Watch this video for more information.
A group of teachers from our district went to the MACE conference a few weeks ago and some were lucky enough to attend an Infographics session taught by Janet Sauber from Salina.  Her information was fantastic and she even provided templates for teachers and students to use.  (see below)  Give infographics a try or contact me and we will brainstorm ways in which they could be a benefit to you and your students.

Literary Analysis Template
Process Template
Data Analysis Template
Timeline Template