Infographics in the Classroom

Slate

March 4, 2013 - by Guest Author

By: Steve Davids

It is hard to believe but infographics have been around since the 19th century. That’s when the first visualization of statistical data is from. It is the digital age now, and information is more visual and interactive than it has ever been. Infographics play a huge role in the dissemination of information. They categorize, define, and simplify topics ranging from national budgets to phrasal verbs. Personally, I am intimidated by infographics for their simplicity and communication of information mixed with attractive visuals. I love being absorbed by a high-quality infographic, even if I am not too interested in the topic. Infographics are the best way to quickly learn what otherwise would have taken hours to study. It is just that infographics make dry and confusing content digestible. They make it easy to understand. So why don’t we use infographics more often in education?

This may be because infographics are generally the creation of a marketing or a graphic design department. Perhaps, educators just don’t see infographics as a legitimate medium of communication in the classroom. I know infographics played no role in my teacher education program. Yet there are many powerful infographics that can be used in the field of education. Check out this website as an example: www.grammar.net. It is full of concise infographics on topics students are usually not interested in. They are great for testing if students get intimidated by the info. All too often I see students working with reference sheets that are just dull lists on white paper. Compelling and visually-engaging content is more motivating to study, and it is readily available on websites like grammar.net.

Not only are infographics visually engaging, but they also support another hot topic in education: differentiation. Educational rhetoric is today filled with differentiating practices and methodologies. Teachers are looking for ways to implement assessments and teaching methodologies for all of their students’ learning styles. Infographics are a simple and an effective way of clarifying classroom material for visual and logical learners. For many students, creating their own infographics is a way to both strengthen and assess their understanding of the subject.

My classroom experiences have proven that there is a lack of creative outlets. Current policies have created classrooms that prepare to tests. That’s about all they do. Students need to have a break from that. I would love to walk through halls and see creative infographics made by students. Wouldn’t it be great to see a color-coded and labeled “Best Hangouts in Town” map or “The Life of a Freshman” timeline? These infographics could be humorous or informative. Regardless of their content, students would have to exercise their creativity and synthesize the information to create strong infographics.

Changes in classroom methodologies are slow to implement. While there may be educators out there incorporating infographics into their teaching, I have not seen any of them at work. I believe we are missing out on a resource that could be beneficial to our students. As schools become more and more digitally connected, I’m sure we will see a shift in the ways information is conveyed. Infographics are highly valued by all businesses for their conciseness and aesthetic value. I would like to see them become a larger part of public education as well.