You can make infographics and so can your students - Don’t believe me?

First, Let’s look at a professional infographic:

Next, let’s look at an infographic created by myself:

While the first infographic is stellar, my infographic gets the point across as well.  The best part is to make my infographic all I had to do was tweak templates provided by the free web app Canva.  Could your students do this?  “Creating beautiful and instantly understandable infographics in Photoshop is often beyond the limits that time allows, which is why it's occasionally useful to use a quick and easy infographics or data visualisation app to speed up the process.” (“8 free tools,” 2017)

Other infographics I made used the tools provided by Google.  One was a simple timeline using Google Photos.  Another involved me inserting data into Google Sheets and then inserting the chart into Google Drawings to be manipulated using the tools.  Both activities were not difficult, but very engaging and would provide students a chance to express data differently.  There are other tools available as well.  Eight of the most current tools can be learned by visiting the Creative Bloq website.  (“8 free tools,” 2017)

The tools are just part of the process.  As a teacher you will also have to cover the design, content, and purpose elements involved in making an infographic.  To help guide you in this process you should visit “Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Everything” website and view her video on “Infographics as a Creative Assessment.” (Schrock, 2013; Schrock, 2017)  Here you will find everything you need on how to teach your students about creating infographics including downloadable rubrics and guides.  

After viewing the webpage and video I know that I will have to give my students a great essential question to research.  With this question in mind then I will guide my students with their data research, creative commons licensed image searches, and infographic sketches before using the web tools.  Again before creating students should also outline their infographic so there is a catchy intro and a plan to present their information in an inverted pyramid style.  The LATCH model should also be presented to students to help guide them with the purpose for their infographic.  Kathy Schrock’s handouts on color and font choice should be presented to students to help them make good decisions as they begin to create their infographics. (Schrock, 2013; Schrock, 2017)   

As a technology teacher grades 2-6 I can envision adding an infographic to each grade level I teach.  To introduce infographics to students, I really liked the lessons provided by Adam Stryker on the Kathy Schrock website. After these introduction lessons I will then focus on covering a different a type of infographic with the several years I have with the students.  Picking the right type will “help you identify which type of infographic will best serve your purpose and audience.” (Chibana, 2015)  Grade two can make a how-to infographic on an activity they are familiar with.  Grade three can make a comparison infographic to demonstrate visually how different technology is from a different decade.  Grade four can make a timeline infographic of how a technology product has changed over time.  Grade five can make a single chart infographic to display the data from a Google Sheet in a visual way.  Then grade six will need to complete a process infographic to demonstrate the design process.  

In conclusion, infographics are not just for graphic arts professionals.  With guidance and a tested application, any teacher can use infographics with their students to enhance their learning.  Creating infographics will help the students gain ownership over a technological product that will move it from just something they learned to something that is memorable.    

References

8 free tools for creating infographics. (2017, July 28). Retrieved July 30, 2017, from http://www.creativebloq.com/infographic/tools-2131971

Chibana, N. (2015, November 20). 13 Types of Infographics: Which One Works For You? Retrieved July 30, 2017, from http://blog.visme.co/types-of-infographics/

Schrock, K. (2013, October 5). Infographics as a creative assessment. Retrieved July 30, 2017, from https://vimeo.com/76228166

Schrock, K. (2017, July 8). Infographics as a Creative Assessment. Retrieved July 30, 2017, from http://www.schrockguide.net/infographics-as-an-assessment.html

What Happens in an Internet Minute [Digital image]. (2011, December 16). Retrieved July 30, 2017, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Internet_Minute_Infographic.jpg