Infographics-To-Go

Infographics are great tools to use for visual representations of evidence and information. They help the human brain extract patterns of information from the graphic representation. It’s important for students to be able to read and interpret visual representations of information. Students can break down information and use image, symbols, and text to communicate in an attractive and effective way using a variety of tools. I looked at three of these tools to find one that worked best for me.

Infogr.am is a free site that has lots of charts, graphs, and maps available. It’s easy to import data from Google Drive, Excel, or Dropbox. It’s easy to drag what you want from the sidebar and put in numbers and details into the data chart provided. You can also add pictures and videos. It’s simple to use, but there were not as many options available as some of the other infographic sites.

Easel.ly is another popular infographic site that has lots of great eye-catching templates and features. It allows the user to insert media- YouTube videos and stock photos. Overall, I found the site to be difficult and frustrating for me as I tried to find a template to quickly use for my information. Many of the objects I wanted to use as symbols were not available unless I signed up for the pro plan. If I were going to use this with students, I would need to allow for extra time to learn and explore the features.

Piktochart had a limited number of templates available to customize. If you want more, you must have a pro account. The free templates have great visual customization options that can add patterned background and custom color schemes that will look great in a presentation or printable. It’s easy to add videos, pictures, stock pictures, and frames. The program worked well in my Chrome browser. It’s compatible with Google and Facebook. This was my personal favorite and the easiest for me to use. With a little practice, I can see how I might use this in the future to make annual reports to share with administrators and teachers. Here is the example infographic I made.