Digital Media

Hi again!
I've been exploring, finding and creating with a very interesting and resourceful free digital software called Infogram. This blog post will host some examples of what I've created and uploaded using Infogram, as well as revealing some insights on how this technology could impact the classroom, opportunities students may encounter and just how to customize and create within the easy to use infographic, interactive map, online report and chart maker; Infogram.

Infographics is a unique way to combine visual literacy with data analysis to portray a visual representation that leads the reader to a clear conclusion. They pack a punch in the classroom and often allow you to pack big ideas into small spaces, while this information is also presented in compelling, colorful and engaging ways. Infogram gives an intuitive and effective way to create these for free!

When creating a free account with Infogram, you need to select what kind of organization you belong to? and What is your role?

(Image Source: https://infogram.com/app/#/library) 

These questions create a more individualized experience with this software. Templates for reports, infographics, slides, posters and other project types are formulated and geared towards the organization and role you answer. This was evident when my templates and experiences became educational because of my selections of schooling and teaching. The basic functions and sample templates are displayed within the GIF I created below:

(Image Source: https://giphy.com/channel/rileysteffen)

As shown, you can create your own graphs from a blank template or from one of the ample they provide you. When creating a Infogram from a free account you are entitled to a selective amount of templates, to further increase these with additional storage and sharing option you can upgrade your account.

(Image Source: https://infogram.com/app/#settings/plans)

When considering student safety and ethical protocols, the process of account creation and use of this technological software within the classroom needs to be approved as an acceptable site to visit by technical support or school administrators. This is because I needed to use my name and email address. This may incur students using fake names or having a standardized account they can access. When creating a project I discovered free accounts cannot privatize what you create, meaning students work would be publicly view-able. This could be a potential ethical dilemma and Copywrite issue.

(Image Source: https://infogram.com/app/#/templates)

However, this link will take you to one of the infographic's I made. It is very easy to use, eye-pleasing and intuitive in software design. When creating statistical infographics there is some knowledge and understandings needed to graph tables in an excel like format. This would be in consideration and explicit teacher instruction would be needed to ensure students excel capacities are developed. There is also how to videos created specifically for using Infogram features. This technology would be fantastic in supporting student engagement and understandings when doing assessment tasks or lesson activities. Overall, Infogram would have countless applications for students to enhance their learning. Using the SAMR Model, I have established below how infographic software might be used in my Science classrooms.

SCIENCE: Performing an Experiment.

Substitution Level: Input experimental data collected into an existing graph template.
Augmentation Level: Change and alter the information according to the average of all students data collected. 
Modification Level: Compare statistical data found individually and averaged data found from all participants and present in a report. 
Redefinition Level: Research statistical information and creates/presents a presentation using/sharing with peers or globally for feedback and questioning.

Learning about and using Infogram has increased my own capacities to use digital media technology and built upon the ways I display data. I hope you have enjoyed learning something new! and think about the potential learning styles you can now cater for with the use this software.

Thanks,
Riley.