Cognitive Cave Art:
Infographics for Knowledge Representation
Ready to engage students in cognitive task analysis? Focus on knowledge representation through the use of infographics and charts. This hands-on session will have you learning how to make and model infographics using free tools.
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Note for K-12 Students:
If you are a student using Google Workspace for Education, you may be unable to access the Google version of these infographics. That's because your school district has NOT allowed you to access resources outside of your school district domain. Get a teacher to access the resources here, then share them with you using your school district domain. OR, use a personal Gmail account.
Use FILE-->MAKE A COPY while viewing an infographic you want.
Share Your Cognitive Cave Art
Share your creation efforts so we can all see them!
Don't be afraid to visually represent your ideas.
Contribute to Padlet:
What are Infographics?
Infographics (a clipped compound of "information" and "graphics") are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge intended to present information quickly and clearly.
They can improve cognition by utilizing graphics to enhance the human visual system’s ability to see patterns and trends (Source: Wikipedia)
Why Infographics?
In Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Checkpoint 2.5 suggests we encourage students to learn to "Illustrate through multiple media."
Text, a weak format for presenting concepts, often dominates classroom materials. For learners who have text- or language-related disabilities, it may be ineffective.
One way to overcome that is to provide alternative activities that involve processing information via:
a) illustrations,
b) simulations,
d) images
e) interactive graphics
f) infographics
ELPS#3: Non-linguistic representation is available through graphic organizers, thinking maps, pictures, and visuals.
Greater than fifty percent of learners are non-linguistic. This involves students generating a representation of new information that does NOT rely on language. Robert Marzano says “the average effect [of using non-linguistic representation] includes a seventeen percentile point gain in student achievement.” Wow.
For language learners, consider that “when students make concept maps, idea webs, dramatizations, and other types of nonlinguistic representation, they are actively creating a model of their thinking.”
Tools and Apps
Infographic Tools
Remove Background from Images
Tip 1 - Getting Started with Infographics
Helpful Chrome Add-Ons and/or Extensions
Insert Icons into Slides: Creating an infographic in Google Slides? Use this Google Slides add-on to find icons/images for insertion into your infographic. Special Thanks to Kathy Miller (Twitter: @millerk813) for the suggestion!
Icons by Noun: Access over one million icons. Special Thanks to Kathy Miller (Twitter: @millerk813) for this suggestion, too!
Palette: Not sure how colors should look together? Give this one a try. It allows you to "create your own color palette by manipulating the variation and hue colors."
Fireshot Screenshot Tool: Need a Chrome extension that takes pictures of a web page? Use Fireshot!
Tip #2 - Get Inspired with Simple Tools
Google User?
1. Login to your Google account
2. Click infographic below (or use this link to browse Google Drive folders) that you want to get started with. This will allow you to go to FILE->MAKE A COPY in your Google Drive
3. Customize the infographic template in Google Slides/Drawing
Microsoft User?
2. Download individual files
3. Customize the infographic in MS Powerpoint
Tip #3 - Start with Templates
Check out Michele Klein's Graphic Organizers Collection
This exciting collection features seven different organizers. Follow her on Twitter @She3llyLynn84 and let her know what you think.
Check out David McGeary's infographics
"As promised, here [are] the first of a few of the Google Drawings pieces I intend to share. If anyone wants to use [these], just click on the image and make a copy. I got rid of most of the text, but left the little icons in the dots.
You can just isolate and replace the images in the dots. I recommend doing an image search by color and usage rights. I also used https://coolors.co/ to get a working color palette for this project. It is one of my favorite tools for design work. "
--David Mcgeary
Check out Diana Benner's Infographics Collection
Fill out this online form to get the download link for Diana's awesome Google Drawing templates. It includes a wide variety of curated resources from Google educators, including Diana Benner herself.
You can reach her online via Twitter at the address linked below or read her personal blog. Of course, she is an active TCEA TechNotes blogger.