Friday, March 27, 2015

Set your data loose with infographics - classroom edition

I love infographics, but oftentimes, they are misused. When we try to change the standard "PowerPoint" presentation into an infographic, we miss the point of infographics. I'm a supporter of steering away from the standard "PowerPoint" presentation that throws all of the information onto the slide. This is especially true for students. 

As a former high school English teacher, I have been subject to many regurgitated presentations; presentations that are so text and information-heavy that students get lost in their words. That's where infographics come in - they should be short and sweet. They should challenge students to get to the point. That's not only a hard thing for students, but a challenging one for professionals. 

The tools below are excellent platforms for the creation of infographics. However, without instruction of the point of infographics, they too can miss their meaning and become text and information-heavy. 

So, do it - challenge your peers, your students, and yourself to get to the point and share infographics. 





  • Upload your own images
  • Download as an image file
  • Share via Google + and Twitter
  • Search from a gallery of icons and templates

2.  Easel.ly

  • Upload your own images
  • Download as an image file or PDF
  • Share with a link or embed code
  • Search from a gallery of vhemes, objects, shapes, and backgrounds



  • Add media
  • Share with a link, embed code, and Twitter
  • Edit and customize pre-existing items

4. Canva


  • Upload your own images
  • Download as an image or PDF
  • Share with a link or Twitter
  • Edit and customize pre-existing items with a huge gallery selection!



  • Upload your own images
  • Share via Google + or Twitter
  • Edit and customize pre-existing items with a huge gallery selection!
  • A large gallery of pictograms and graphs to integrate with data



  • Upload your own images
  • Download as an image or PDF
  • Share with Twitter
  • Build-your-own infographic set up
  • No pre-set templates




  • Upload your own resume
  • Download as an image or PDF
  • Share with a link, embed code, Google + or Twitter
  • Edit and customize pre-existing items with a huge gallery selection!
  • Partners with Venngage



  • Browse a variety of templates
  • Download as an image (PNG, JPEG) or PDF
  • Share with a link, embed code, Google + or Twitter
  • Collaborate with others simultaneously
  • Easily embed in other products (especially Google)





  • Contains many teaching materials and tutorials
  • Classroom teacher lessons & vetted
  • FREE!

  • 20 tips on how to avoid typography mistakes
  • FREE!
  • Easy to use & clear for student instruction

For more fun tools & integration/innovation tips, check out Fennovation.org

1 comment:

  1. Good list of the tools to work with Data into the classroom. I would recommend tuvalabs.com as it provides real world data to explore and also activity to engage meaningfully with it.

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