Neither infographics nor data visualization are new, nor are they new to instruction. Some textbook pages (even) are designed for more efficient and compelling communication of complex issues. What is new is their volume, frequency, the richness of the media, and elements that I can’t think of right now.
Perhaps one of the bigest and most listened to advocates of using infographics and data vis in the classroom is Diana Laufinberg, from The Science Leadership Academy. Diana, a History teacher, is a long time user of geographic information systems (GIS). She has recently, however, started helping her students to create their own infographics from complex issues that are part of her course of study and/or part of current events.
Here is a video of Diana’s talk at a recent TEDx…
Laufinberg also talks about her experiences in this New York Times article, Learning Visualized.
