How the infographic web tool, Infogram can be used to promote instruction in the blended learning classroom

When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices, and demonstrate how these best practices can be applied in the real (i.e. physical) and virtual (i.e. online) classroom for both teaching and teacher training. The combination of face to face instruction in a physical setting and online learning is called blended learning. In this section of the blog we will describe how the internet can serve as a supplemental resource for instruction and the mentoring of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators. In this post we will discussion how Infogram, an infographic web tool, can be used to promote  instruction in the blended learning classroom.

Assumption: The teacher or mentor teacher has an interactive white board (i.e. SMART Board, Promethean, etc.), a Tablet PC (also called a Slate or Blade), a computer presenter or computer with internet access attached to an LCD projector in the classroom. It would be ideal if students or mentees had access to their own laptop computers or iPads. Given parental and school approval, and the development of specific guidelines, smartphones can be used to enhance instruction as well.

Note: Although Infogram can be applied in the Judaic Studies blended learning classroom, it can be also be used for training pre-service and in-service Jewish educators for professional or staff development. It is our hope that Jewish educators around the globe will form an online community of practice, a CoP, a group of people who share an interest, a craft, and/or a profession, to enhance the delivery of instruction and training of Jewish educators. For example, here is a CoP you might want to join. 

Note: Infogram can be used in a face to face and virtual classroom.

What is Infogram?

Infogram is an infographic web tool.

What is an Infographic web tool?

An infographic web tool or app is an internet application or type of software which enables the user to  create a meaningful  pictorial or visual display of complex data.

According to http://www.techopedia.com/definition/27808/information-graphic-infographic an infographic is:

a visual representation of a data set or instructive material. An infographic takes a large amount of information in text or numerical form and then condenses it into a combination of images and text, allowing viewers to quickly grasp the essential insights the data contains. Infographics are not a product of the Web, but the Internet has helped popularize their use as a content medium.

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infographic info graphics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge intended to present complex information quickly and clearly.[1][2] They can improve cognition by utilizing graphics to enhance the human visual system’s ability to see patterns and trends.[3][4] The process of creating infographics can be referred to as data visualization, information design, or information architecture.[2]

Click here to see sample  infographics on American Jews which were reported from the 2013 Pew Research Survey of American Jews.

What are some reasons for using infographics in teaching?

Infographics are used for the following reasons:

• To make complex information accessible to students
• Since some students are visual learners, the infographic appeals to their learning style.
• To stimulate higher levels of thinking such as analysis, synthesis and evaluation
• To enable students to see relationships between mathematical concepts (e.g. percent, ratios, proportion, etc.) and Judaic content

Where is  Infogram located on the internet?

http://infogr.am/

How the infographic web tool, Infogram can be used to promote instruction in the blended learning classroom

Click on the links below and see how infographic web tools like Infogram, can be used to promote instruction in the face to face and virtual classroom:

• https://infogr.am/judaic-infographic-using-infogram?src=web
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNtCtvsaFgU
• http://www.slideshare.net/ibcschools123/infographics-10101013-adeil-27214767
• http://www.schrockguide.net/infographics-as-an-assessment.html (general applications of infographics in the classroom)
• https://sites.google.com/a/kathyschrock.net/infographics/links (general links on the use of infographics)

On the next post we will discuss how the infographic web tool, Infogram, can be used to promote Judaic instruction and to mentor/train Jewish educators.