Infographics

Infographics

Description of the tool:

Infographics are information made with graphics. They can be posters, postcards, documents, or flyers. Infographics are a way to get information across using pictures instead of just words. They are a great way to get people's attention when people don't want to read a lot of information. Infographics catch the reader's eye, gives them the information, and then helps the reader process the information. There are a lot of ways to create infographics. Infographics have a lot of purposes too, not just for education. 

Pedagogical use:

You can create infographics to help get a point across to students. If students need a reminder, they can look at the infographic to help them remember how to do something. Infographics can help you get a point across to the parents. If you want to share information about your class in a catchy, fun way, infographics can help. Parents will look at the pictures and get necessary information at the same time. Students can analyze an infographic and then create their own.

In my classroom, I plan on using infographics to help students remember information. For example, one of the first lessons my students have in Math is rounding. I created an infographic showing students how to round to the nearest ten. I would also show students videos and have them practice the concept. Students can look at the infographic for a second chance. The other thing I would use infographics for are to have the students present information. Students can have fun creating posters about a topic of their choosing. When the students are doing creating the infographic, they can share the infographic with their classmates. The classmates would give feedback and analyze it. Students could have fun creating the infographic, and they get to do a project that requires them to be creative. 

Example of infographic using Canva

Heading for blog using Canva

Location of the tool:

https://www.canva.com/ is the one I used. There are many more websites depending on what type of infographic you would like to create. 

Cost associated with the tool:

For Canva, the tool is free if you use your own pictures. If you choose to use a picture from Canva, it is one dollar per picture and you have 24 hours to edit your picture. When you hit finish, Canva will tell you how much you owe. 

Why you want to learn this tool:

You can create any type of infographic that you would like. Infographics are a great way to relate information to your students through images. Canva allows you to use their templates, or you can create your own. I really like how I can import my own pictures. Any type of information you want students to remember with images can be created with an infographic. Infographics do not take a long time to create and they are great to show students information in a fun, creative way. 

Students can also create infographics to present information instead of using paper and pencil. If you teach your students how to create infographics, you will be teaching them a skill they can use for the rest of their life.

Sources:

 Amazingly simple graphic design. (n.d.). Retrieved July 25, 2015, from http://www.canva.com 

 ISTE Standards. (2015). Retrieved July 22, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/standards4

Okland, S. (2014, July 7). Infographics. Retrieved July 25, 2015.

ISTE Standards:

Students:

1. Creativity and innovation
1. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes
2. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression
3. Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues
4. N/A
2. Communication and collaboration
1. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media
2. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats
3. N/A
4. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems
3. Research and information fluency
1. Plan strategies to guide inquiry
2. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media
3. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks
4. Process data and report results
4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making
1. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
2. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project
3. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
4. Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions
5. Digital citizenship
1. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
2. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity
3. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
4. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
6. Technology operations and concepts
1. Understand and use technology systems
2. Select and use applications effectively and productively
3. Troubleshoot systems and applications
4. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies

 Teachers:

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity
1. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
2. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
3. Promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
4. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environment
2. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments
1. Design or adapt learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
2. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
3. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources
4. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments, aligned with content and technology standards, and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching
3. Model digital age work and learning
1. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
2. Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation
3. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats
4. Model and facilitate effective use of emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning
4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility
1. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
2. Address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources
3. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interaction related to the use of technology and information
4. N/A
5. Engage in professional growth and leadership
1. N/A
2. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others
3. N/A
4. Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community