Student Created Content: Infographics

Technology in the classroom is best used when blended in as a tool that enhances learning. To that end I decided to expose my students to infographics.  They had had a little experience viewing them to gather information, and I let them loose to create their own.

Usually, students start to put together their “projects” prior to being well versed in the topic.  They love to incorporate colors, images, and fonts. Knowing that all products depend on the information and understanding the students have, and to prevent them from being distracted by the glitz of making the product, I didn’t even let them in on the fact they would be creating infographics until I felt comfortable with their information and understanding.

I broke the information gathering, processing, and synthesizing into steps and did check-ins along the way. This ensured that students were on track with their understanding.

Students loaded the Piktochart app onto the classroom Chromebooks and accessed it with their school accounts.  Trusting the students to figure the program out and to support one another, I told them they would be familiar with most of the tools in Piktochart. The only features I demonstrated to the students was how to add another block to extend the infographic and how to copy a block so they could repeat a design.  I also told them to let me know if they needed help.

The students were largely independent and problem solved individually and with their neighbors. I guided them whenever they ran into a roadblock.

Students were very successful creating attractive and effective infographics.  They enjoyed the blending of words, images, graphics, and colors. They had to consider effective design to balance these features in an organized and appealing manner. When questioned by a colleague visiting to see them in action, students explained how they envisioned how they could create infographics in his class and others.

Producing infographics is a creative and engaging process for students which emphasizes technology as a productivity tool, can demonstrate student understanding, and has students practice real-life skills.

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If you have used infographics to enhance students learning or, if this post has generated some thoughts of your own, please share in the comments. I would appreciate hearing about them.