FRIT 7136 Information Literacy Infographic Assignment

Infographics visually represent data, information, knowledge, and arguments. Infographics tell complex stories by combining a variety of charts, graphs, timelines, and other tools known as assets. They exploit elements of design to synthesize large amounts of information, to point to connections and patterns, using visual strategies that make it easy for the viewer to digest and understand. (http://sdst.libguides.com/content.php?pid=192765&sid=2300953) Your Assignment Your task is to design an infographic that synthesizes information from a minimum of two sources to convey a key concept (or concepts) related to information literacy. Heres an example from Colorado school librarians about the role of the school librarian in student achievement. Your infographic may also be a why to/how to infographic (like the Power of Google). If you choose to do a why to/how to infographic you MUST link use of the tool to information literacy. Background reading, examples, and lists of tools to use to create your infographic can be found on Infographics 101. Your infographic should contain many of the following elements: data, text, photos, maps, line art, graphic elements. In addition to the infographic, include a brief project reflection (about 300 words) that (1) explains the idea or the message that you were trying to communicate, (2) includes a list of the sources you used in your infographic such as the graphic elements and data, and (3) answers these questions: What inspired the theme of your infographic? How did you identify the sources used for this project? What was the most challenging aspect of designing your infographic?

You may use any Web 2.0 infographic creation tool such as those listed in the following resources to create your infographic. Wordle or Glogster (or comparable visual creation tool) on their own are NOT sufficient for this project. You are creating an infographic, not a poster! Tools specifically developed to create infographics (Creately, piktochart, etc) are the most appropriate choices. Infographics 101 has several links to tools as do the lists at Kathy Schrocks Infographics as Creative Assessment and Carolyn Jo Starkeys Infographics Live Binder (also an excellent example of organizing resources using Live Binders!). You can host your infographic on the web or save it as a graphics file. If on the web, it must be made viewable to the general public. Include your name on both the project description document and your infographic. Submit your project description document, the url of your infographic, or the graphics file in the Infographic Dropbox.

FRIT 7136 Infographic Assignment Rubric

Student Name(s): ____________________________________________

Component

Poor (1 point) Theres no central topic/question addressed in the project. Inaccurate, insufficient, outdated or confusing data

Acceptable (2 points) Content Theres a central topic/question addressed in the project, but not explicitly. One data source that is accurate and supports the topic.

Good (3 points) Theres a central topic/question explicitly addressed in the project.

Excellent (4 points) More than one interesting topic/question is addressed explicitly in the project.

Score

Thesis/Main Idea

Resources/Data

Has at least two data sources. Data is accurate, current, reliable and supports the topic.

Three or more data sources from a variety of reliable sources. Data is accurate, current, and supports the topic and has clearly been synthesized, not simply summarized. Text and visuals work together so that each is enhanced by the other. Attractive, with notably creative elements. Answers all the questions and reflects on the process.

Design: Graphics and Text

Hurts the eyes. Confusing, crowded with text and graphics.

Plain looking. Not visually appealing.

Infographic text is used to explain the context of the problem and clarify purposes of visualizations

Project Description Document

Not present. Does not address all the questions sufficiently. Theres no obvious structure to the infographic.

Answers most of the questions.

Sufficiently answers all the questions.

Communication Organization Theres some structure to the infographic, but its sloppy or hard to follow. Infographic is structured well (using headings, arrangement, and whitespace), but theres no conceptual basis for the organizational scheme. Colors are used to convey meaning or otherwise enhance communication. Infographic is structured and spaced well, with a clear conceptual basis for the organizational scheme.

Colors

Colors are chosen arbitrarily or seemingly without reason.

Colors neither distract nor aid in the communication of information.

Colors are used to convey meaning and are aesthetically appealing.

Component Sources

Poor (1 point) Theres no attempt to explain sources of data or of ideas drawn from outside the course.

Acceptable (2 points) Some attempt at sourcing is made, but sources are unclear or ambiguous.

Good (3 points) Sources are clearly provided, but its unclear how they were used.

Excellent (4 points) Sources of data and of ideas drawn from are clearly provided, as are the ways they were used. Points

Score

Rating Scale Points 27-28 25-26 22-24 18-21 14-17 10-13 9 or fewer Rating Target Target Acceptable Meets Expectations Adequate Below Expectations Unacceptable Grade 100 95 90 85 80 70 60