# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Simple Infographic Maker Tool by Easelly

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Thanks to all of the educators and teachers who joined today's live training. We hope you learned a lot about the power of infographics in the classroom ... as well as a few ways to start using Easel.ly!

In case you missed it, or want a quick recap of what we learned, you can view the video replay (and the slides used for the presentation) at the bottom of this article!

But for those who want a more in-depth review of the presentation, here are some key takeaways from the event:

Infographics are useful for critical thinking and literacy models

Students can use infographics to iterate a subject in new ways, as well as build their research and information vetting skills! Best of all, they can do it while being creative. Let students explore the Easel.ly tool to see the fun things they come up with!

There are a few steps to get started

If you're like most teachers, learning one more tool to use in the classroom doesn't sound like fun. That's why we broke down the infographic process for you.

We recommend starting with The 7 Common Types of Infographics. This helps teachers (and students) decide what kind of information they want to share, whether it's a timeline, comparison, etc.
From there, teachers and educators can:

Show students how to create an outline. A rough draft or outline of an infographic can help students figure out which template to customize or create, and it can help them decide which information is actually important to their visual.

Check for sources. With any project, students should show where they got their information (or from whom). Dinah showed a few ways to organize citations within an infographic using the Easel.ly hyperlink function . Students can list their sources at each point in their infographic, list them all together at the bottom, or even create a separate Google Doc if there are too many to include in the image.

Thanks for registering for our event!

We hope you learned a lot from today's live training, and that you have a ton of new lesson ideas for the Back to School Season.

If you want to revisit the training - or you missed the live event - here is the video recording:

And if you want to download or see the slides used for the presentation, check them out here:
If you're looking for the resources mentioned in today's event, here they are: And as always, please contact us if you have questions about your educator discount for Easel.ly Pro. We can also get you set up with your class! Just email support@easel.ly to get started. Make sure to share your new student and classroom creations on Facebook (easel.ly) and Twitter (@easel_ly)! We can't wait to see.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Make Infographics With Students: Recap & Replay

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Thanks to all of the educators and teachers who joined today's live training. We hope you learned a lot about the power of infographics in the classroom ... as well as a few ways to start using Easel.ly!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Middle School
[Note: this Practice can be incorporated into an infographics lesson when the students analyze and graph a data set in order to identify patterns in the data. The first middle school standard can also be addressed by having students interpret the story told by an existing infographic.]

Construct, analyze, and/or interpret graphical displays of data and/or large data sets to identify linear and nonlinear relationships.

Use graphical displays (e.g., maps, charts, graphs, and/or tables) of large data sets to identify temporal and spatial relationships.

High School

Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (e.g., computational, mathematical) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution
Mathematical and Computational Thinking
Middle School
[Note: These standards can be incorporated when students analyze and graph data to look for patterns to illustrate in their infographics, especially if computers are used for this step. However, even graphing data by hand would be excellent practice for your students that would lay the groundwork for later learning to analyze and graph data on a computer.]

Use digital tools (e.g., computers) to analyze very large data sets for patterns and trends

High School

Use mathematical, computational, and/or algorithmic representations of phenomena or design solutions to describe and/or support claims and/or explanations.
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Middle School
[Note: these standards are addressed when students come up with explanations for patterns they see in data. These patterns and explanations can then be illustrated and communicated in the infographics the students design.]

Construct an explanation that includes qualitative or quantitative relationships between variables that predict(s) and/or describe(s) phenomena.

Apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence to construct, revise and/or use an explanation for real-world phenomena, examples, or events.

High School

Make a quantitative and/or qualitative claim regarding the relationship between dependent and independent variables.
Engaging in Argument from Evidence [Note: there are many possible ways to integrate arguing from evidence into an infographics lesson. For instance, students could argue from evidence to support their interpretation of the story told by a data set, and then design an infographic to explain/support that interpretation. Alternatively, they could argue from evidence to support their interpretation of the main idea of an existing infographic. Or they could compare multiple infographics on similar topics and analyze whether they tell the same story.]
Middle School

Compare and critique two arguments on the same topic and analyze whether they emphasize similar or different evidence and/or interpretations of facts.

Construct, use, and/or present an oral and written argument supported by empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support or refute an explanation or a model for a phenomenon or a solution to a problem.

High School

Construct, use, and/or present an oral and written argument or counter-arguments based on data and evidence.
Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information [Note: there are many ways to incorporate standards from this Practice into an infographics lesson, if desired. For example, students could research a topic using books, other scientific texts, and the internet and then make an infographic explaining their findings.]
Middle School

Integrate qualitative and/or quantitative scientific and/or technical information in written text with that contained in media and visual displays to clarify claims and findings.

Communicate scientific and/or technical information (e.g. about a proposed object, tool, process, system) in writing and/or through oral presentations.

High School

Communicate scientific and/or technical information or ideas (e.g. about phenomena and/or the process of development and the design and performance of a proposed process or system) in multiple formats (i.e., orally, graphically, textually, mathematically).
Common Core State Standards - English Language Arts Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
Grades 9-10

1. Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9-10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

2. Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.

Grades 11-12

1. Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 11-12 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

2. Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.
Reading Standards For Literacy In Science And Technical Subjects: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
Grades 9-10

7. Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.

Grades 11-12

7. Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., quantitative data, video, multimedia) in order to address a question or solve a problem.

8. Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analysis, and conclusions in a science or technical text, verifying the data when possible and corroborating or challenging conclusions with other sources of information.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Infographics in the Classroom Teacher Toolkit

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Analyzing and Interpreting Data Middle School [Note: this Practice can be incorporated into an infographics lesson when the students analyze and graph a data set in order to identify patterns in the data. The first middle school standard can also be addressed by having students interpret the story told by an existing infographic.]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
More than 206,756 free vector icons in one place. Download all the free icons in SVG and PNG formats. Use them for web design, mobile apps, or presentations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Simple Infographic Maker Tool by Easelly

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Recently, The Indiana Council for Economic Education offered 4 th through 12 th grade teachers the opportunity to have their students participate in the Indiana Stock Market Program.

Here, students kept track of investments using a stock simulation and participated in an infographic competition. Students were allowed to choose from ten different investment-related topics to create an infographic and were graded on a very specific rubric (see the bottom of this article). The Assistant Director of the Indiana Council for Economic Education, J.W. Fansler, recently shared the details of the competition with Easel.ly.
The Indiana Council Competition
"During the spring semester, over 210 entries were submitted and students again received prizes for elementary, middle, and high school divisions. Any student who competed in the Smart Indiana Stock Market Program could submit an infographic into this competition," said Fansler.

Once the infographics were submitted, they were judged by a panel of investors from the financial industry. Three student teams from elementary, middle, and high schools were given a monetary award and recognized at an annual banquet by the Indiana Council for Economic Education and the Indiana Secretary of State. Winning images were also made into banners and displayed at the annual program in May, and will be included in conferences throughout the year.

Fansler shared that, by using infographics, both teachers and students learned a lot about stock market diversification and the educational influence of infographics.
How Teachers and Students Used Easel.ly
"We recommended two options for the students," Fansler said. "They could either use PowerPoint or they could use Easel.ly [to make their infographics]." Many of the students chose to use Easel.ly "because it was much easier to use," he explained. The only instruction the students were given was to research 'infographics' on Google, then use PowerPoint or Easel.ly to create their own image.

If you ask us, the students did an amazing job! Here are some of the infographics they created for the competition:
Introducing Infographics into Classes
When the council invited teachers and their students to take part in this competition, many teachers shied away from it because they had never used or taught infographics before.

"Most of the teachers were brand new to this type of thing," JW shared. But by encouraging teachers and students to engage in the competition, he explained that the council hopes to help teachers realize that creating infographics is an important skill for their students to learn.

Many of the economics teachers didn't know anything about infographics before this, but they soon found out that it was a great way for everyone to learn about infographic concepts - themselves included! Teachers who participated can now have their students use infographics as a way to display knowledge they gain throughout the semester, unit-by-unit.
Why Infographics Matter in Education
According to Fansler, the Economic Council believes that "it is important for students in K-12 education to learn how to create infographics." Training younger students on how to visually depict a concept is very important, as it will continue to be a skill they use as they grow up, go to college or find jobs.

"Students need to be able to take mass amounts of data and turn that data into something that is visually appealing and that can be understood by the general public," he explained. Understanding the information and then being able to interpret it visually also helps students absorb information and may lead to increased test scores, comprehension, and overall success in class.

"Students need to be able to take mass amounts of data and turn that data into something that is visually appealing and that can be understood by the general public."
Create Your Own Infographic Competition
Thanks to Fansler and the many participants in the economic infographic competition, we have some great tips for designing and grading infographics that reflect learning and comprehension.

With little guidance, these students managed to create infographics that won them a place in the Indiana Council's competition - that is a true testament to how easy infographics can be. Teachers can let students explore infographic tools like Easel.ly without needing an in-depth introduction; let them play and learn! Easel.ly's templates, as Fansler said, make it easy for students because they don't have to create anything from scratch. They can use our favorite templates to quickly and easily insert their own data. This makes it SO much easier for students to absorb the information they're handling, as opposed to just dumping it in the Creation Tool while trying to figure out how the Creation Tool works.

Easel.ly's templates, as Fansler said, make it easy for students because they don't have to create anything from scratch. They can use our favorite templates to quickly and easily insert their own data. This makes it SO much easier for students to absorb the information they're handling, as opposed to just dumping it in the Creation Tool while trying to figure out how the Creation Tool works.

As our friends over at EdTech Magazine say, it's also important that students engage in active technology use, rather than just passive use. Students can think critically about the data they collect for their infographics and "drive the point home" by using visuals to represent their interpretations.

Infographics in education are a highly underestimated tool, one that many more teachers are discovering. If you're interested in learning about how to use infographics in your classroom, check out this list of resources:
#NYCSchoolsTechChat - Resources, Images & More! Improving Data Literacy in Schools Infographics & Writing Standards: Standards and Purpose Process
VIDEO: Using Easel.ly to Create Infographics in the Classroom
The Rise of EdTech and How One Teacher is Making the Most of It AND REMEMBER: Educators always get 50% off an Easel.ly Pro account (and we have packages that can include a class up to 30 students for just $36 per year!)
And for a general rubric, Fansler's panel used this simple outline:

Infographics don't have to be perfect, and as Fansler said, "Easel.ly makes this process easy even for students who are not overly artistic" or who don't have much technological know-how.

Start creating today or let your class explore Easel.ly's templates. You'll be amazed at what they come up with!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Improving Economic Education With Infographic Competition

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Recently, The Indiana Council for Economic Education offered 4th through 12th grade teachers the opportunity to have their students participate in the Indiana Stock Market Program. Here, students kept track of investments using a stock simulation and participated in an infographic competition. Students were allowed to choose from ten different investment-related topics to create...

# data[].attributes.body
History-Social Studies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teaching With Infographics | Social Studies, History, Economics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Charts, interactive maps and other visualizations that can help students understand key issues and topics in current events and politics, history and economics.