Sharpen Your Visual Literacy

Inforgraphics. I love them. Why? Because, motion graphics and data visualization provide a refreshingly new perspective on boring stats, figures and numbers. Not to mention all of this information is delivered in a medium that does not discriminate against the native languages of consumers of digital content.

When I discovered an eye-catching portrayal of Asian-Pacific social media use in a recent infographic by Burson-Marsteller, I began to wonder on the role of infographics in the digital classroom. How can infographics be used in schools to take students above and beyond the typical learning process?

• Cross-Cultural Understanding:  Infographics speak through a universal language that can help students recognize and understand cultural commons, in their neighborhoods and far away cultures. Images create a story, taking children on a voyage through the world.
• Ditching traditional forms of testing: Imagine a teacher hands out an assignment where students are required to visually create a representation of the history of the Cold War or the role of economics in international diplomacy. Students will be able to think creatively and outside the box to show their educators how they understand subject matter and effectively analyze data.
• Going beyond what’s right and what’s wrong: With infographics, there are no wrong ways to represent information. It is a form of understanding through self-expression, creating a unique and self-designed form of education.

In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to communicate ideas to a multitude of cultures and non-native English speakers is becoming a huge asset. Infographics are an excellent way to challenge our youth and test their ability to absorb and display information in both a beneficial and engaging manner.

Looking to use infographics in your school? Read how one classroom, inspired by the Gulf Oil Spill, created their own infographic on man-made disasters, here.

Keep Calm and Learn On,

Nora

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