Using Infographics In Math

 

When I trained to become a teacher, infographics did not exist or at least the professors in my program had not heard of them.  In fact, most were not particularly familiar with computers or other technology so we were trained in the old fashioned way.  Lecture to the students, give them lots of notes, finish with an assignment of 30 problems or so and let them work most of the problems at home.  Since then, infographics have hit the scene and it is important to include them as part of the regular curriculum so students learn to read and interpret data.

Infographics by definition are visual charts or diagrams containing images, pie charts, and minimal text which is used to present an easy to understand a topic.  It is a tool used to educate and inform. Infographics that contain graphs allow students to find patterns and trends.  In math, infographics are a great way to present various concepts and themes.  Infographics help bridge gaps of understanding, improve memory retention, and helps improve engagement.  

When students are asked to create infographics, they must synthesize information and data, how they see the topic, and understand how they visual the material.  In addition, you as the teacher can create infographics to help students learn the material, or use as a reference.  Let's look at how the teacher might go about creating an infographic for students.

The first thing is to select the correct topic.  What ever the topic, it should correspond with curriculum objectives and is appropriate for the grade level being taught. Math infographics can be used to change concepts into perfect visual representation, thus clarifying and making the topic understandable.  

Creating the infographic design requires that one begin with selecting key elements, conceptualizing them, before finding appropriate and captivating images, diagrams, and the right icons.  Any explanations will be concise and support the visuals rather than explaining them. Each step, concept, or equation can be explained using simple language students understand.  For instance, a math infographic can break each step down into digestible steps to guide students into solving complex problems.  If possible include an interactive element such as fill-in the blank, label diagrams, or even mini-quizzes that help students with self reflection.  

On the other hand, students can use infographics to show how well they grasp a particular topic on concept. Students need to select a topic that doesn't need to be on math per se but might focus on using and presenting data.  One topic might be the use of slang in middle school, the most popular candies according to various age groups, how many platinum records their favorite music group has sold. Before having students begin their research, they should be exposed to several different types of infographics so they know the differences. In fact, this can lead to a discussion on each infographic, what information they are best for, etc.

One they decide on the topic, they need to conduct research.  They need to research their topic and what is the best way to share the information with others.  Specifically, they should think about which information, facts, or data are important to the topic and which aren't.  Then they need to consider what colors they think will work best, which graphics do the best job of conveying the information to the viewer, and in what order should the information appear.  They should also be reminded to include citations showing where they got their information from. 

Then it is time to put them together.  This can be done easily using one of several free sites available online.  Once the infographics are completed, they can be shared with the rest of the class.  Let me know what you think, I'd like to hear.  Have a great day.