Back

Infographics

Infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data, or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly. They can improve cognition by utilizing graphics to enhance the human visual system’s ability to see patterns and trends. Infographics have been around for years and recently the increase of a number of easy-to-use, free tools have made the creation of infographics available. Data visualization combines principles from psychology, usability, graphic design, and statistics to highlight important data in appealing formats. Doing so helps bridge knowledge producers with the knowledge users, who are often iundated with information and increasingly pressed for time.  Social media sites have allowed for individual infographics to be spread world-wide.

Inforgraphics have primarily five types of visualization categories, time-series data, statistical distributions, and maps.

Relating Infographics to Instructional Objectives

Class of media: Instructional aid.

Characteristics: Still visual

Application to types of learning:

Cognitive objectives:  Infographics can be used to teach recognition of, and discrimination among relevant visual elements:

Infographics reveal data. Graphics can be more precise and revealing than conventional statistical computations.

Make large data sets coherent, displaying visual representations and encouraging the mind through the eye to compare different pieces of data, teaching discrimination skills.

Teach comprehension of data at several levels of detail, from a broad overview to the fine structure and closely integrates with the statistical and verbal descriptions of a data set.

Show principles of operation of objects that normally have working parts enclosed and invisible for observation.

They can also be used to teach rules, principles, or concepts:

Reinforce the comments of an instructor.

Display words or phrases to be stressed or present an outline of points to be shown in coordination with the instructor’s presentation.

Clarify and reinforce the instructors commentary by displaying elements of the lesson content.

Provide visual cues for the instructor to follow in presenting the lesson.

Psychomotor objectives.  Limited application.

Affective objectives.  Provides recognition of  visual representations in a modern day mimization of attention span

Advantages and Disadvantages of Infographics

Advantages

• Effective way to present complex data in a visual format that is compelling, and provides rapidly available information that is directly useful for decision-making purposes.
• Reduces barriers for limited time, information overload, to understand important information.
• Allows instructors to face an audience in a lighted room to permit interpersonal exchange and to encourage questions and discussion.
• Permits the instructor provide the infographic as a handout or described for those with visual disabilities.

Disadvantages

• Requires time and commitment, not only to develop the final product, but also to develop the level of expertise within an interdisciplinary team.
• Does not allow an instructor to edit or revise instructional materials.

 Considerations for Selecting and Developing Infographics for Instruction

• Infographics tell a story, highlight useful information and look professional.
• Provide more sophisticated visualization skills.