Getting Creative with Infographics

 

I found this cute infographic about spring foods 

So you might have heard the term "infographic" at some point recently. Or maybe you haven't. But it is more than likely that you have seen an infographic without even knowing it. An infographic is simply information that is presented graphically usually through images, illustrations, pictures, charts, and graphs. 

I really don't think infographics are a super unique concept. The truth is we've always tried to organize information in an easy-to-understand format. Charts, graphs, diagrams, and flow charts are all visual elements that have been used to present information for a long time now. 

Infographics are an excellent tool for schools to utilize. With the abundance of websites that can help you create infographics, teachers can use infographics in the classroom, librarians can use them for creative projects, and they're helpful to send home to parents as well. 

To better understand how to create an infographic, I checked out a few popular websites that allow you to create free accounts to make the visuals. I'm going to give my opinion on each site I explored, and then tell you which one I liked best. 

Easelly 

So, I took a look at Easelly first. This website can log you in via Google, so sign-up was easy. The site is easy to maneuver. Once I was logged in, I was in the dashboard where I could create an infographic from a blank template, or go through their free templates and choose one to edit. I personally did not like the choices of free templates. The user can click on the categories to narrow down what they're looking for. But this leads to templates that are not available through the free version. However, paid plans are priced fairly and are as low as $2 a month.

One nice feature that stood out was the ability to create folders. I can see students using this in more than one class and creating folders for each class or maybe for each unit of study. Teachers or librarians can create folders for personal and professional use, or for different events in the school year. Overall I think this is a good site for students who are just learning to make an infographic. Students can quickly log in and pick a free template to create as a final product of a unit or chapter of study. 

Infogram

Infogram was also an easy sign-up, but with additional steps compared to Easelly. Google will log you in, and it, helpfully, displays what a free account will enable you to do, which is 10 projects, 13 maps, and animated graphics. I know I said Easelly would be great for students, and it would, but with only 10 projects on a free account, Infogram is also a good option for a student who might use it for class. 

The Infogram dashboard is more aesthetically pleasing, and it offers more options than Easelly. Unfortunately, a lot of the extra options require an upgrade. As you can see in the picture, this site offers the option of creating posters, social media posts, reports, and slides. You can certainly get creative!

Piktochart

When I reached Piktograph, I was expecting more of the same, and it mostly was. But Piktograph was very streamlined, visually appealing, and seemed to have more options. 

Just like Infogram, you can create more than just infographics. There's also a video option too! It connects to zoom, you can record your own, or you can upload a previously recorded one. The free account allows a 20-minute video to be recorded through the website. The free account also allows you to create teams of 4 people! This is a great option for collaborating at school. 

As I searched through the templates, I found them much more visually interesting than the other sites. Luckily there are a ton more free options for various formats.

The image above is just a small sampling of what's available in the templates section. I can see Piktograph being a great account for personal use as well because it has options for greeting cards, invitations, and resumes among others. 

Of course, if it isn't obvious yet, I think Piktograph is the best option to create infographics out of the three I looked at. Of course, don't take my word for it, and look for yourself! There might be things in Easelly or Infogram that you might like better. 

I had to attempt to create an infographic because what better way to better understand a tool than using it? This is what I came up with using information I found in an article on Pew Research. 

References

Gelles-Watnick, R. (2022, December 15). Explicit content, time-wasting are key social media worries for parents of U.S. teens. Pew Research Center. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/12/15/explicit-content-time-wasting-are-key-social-media-worries-for-parents-of-u-s-teens/