Analysis: I use the Big6 to teach research skills to 4th and 5th grade students. The objective of my infographic is to further break down the simple steps of the Big6 research process.
Design: After a two-part lesson on using the Big6 for research, an infographic with the six different easy-to-follow steps would be shown on the interactive board in order to remind students of the process.
Development: The infographic will be printed and handed to all 4th and 5th grade classroom teachers to post in their classrooms. It will also be posted on the media center website, as well as hung by the computers in the media center and in the computer lab.
Implementation: Once the infographic is displayed in the proper places, it will consistently be used as a visual aid during all 4th and 5th grade research lessons that take place in the media center.
Evaluation: At the start of their allotted research time, students will receive a checklist for each step. They may check off each step when it is completed and turn it in with their project. Also, the teacher and media specialist may check in with students by individually discussing their checklist with them.
Research can be a daunting task, but the Big6 breaks it down in a way that students understand. I use both the Super3 and the Big6 while teaching research skills. This infographic may be used as a visual aid when during my lessons. It is also a helpful tool for teachers to hang in their classrooms to use in their own lessons. Being able to visualize the steps will help students create a plan for their research and feel accomplished while doing so.
I used the following design elements and principles while creating this infographic:
Color: I picked three colors to use: turquoise, white and black. The turquoise background attracts the eye, while the black and white of the text and graphics keep the layout bold, but simple.
Contrast: The contrast of the graphics against the white circles draws the eye to the images. The images help the students to further break down each step.
Movement: There is movement created with the horizontal line and circles in steps 1 – 6. Together, these elements help the eye move from left to right with ease.
Gestalt Theory – Proximity: The circles establish a sense that the steps are a part of one group with one goal (a research plan!). The circles also create a simple layout that is easy to follow.
An infographic is a visual aid that helps someone organize and process information using charts, diagrams, timelines, maps and graphics. The layout is simple yet attractive and the text is informational. It’s a great way to quickly communicate information. A poster is a large piece of a paper that conveys an advertisement or an idea using bright colors, text and images. Posters can be physically hung on the wall or created and viewed electronically using a website such as smore.com. Posters and infographics can be used in lessons by conveying ideas with images to help students that are learning to read or working on processing and comprehension.
Students can develop infographics during a research lesson in the media center. For example, 4th graders could complete an infographic about a Native American tribe they are studying. Using Galileo, they will gather information about dwelling, clothing, food, culture and language. After they complete their research, I will show them an inforgraph that I made as an example and show them around the website. Then they will use piktochart to complete an infographic to share information about the tribe. After the lesson, I will display their work in the media center.
I enjoyed this assignment and enjoyed using piktograph. It challenged me to learn a new website while thinking of innovative ways to use this tool with my students. I like that it forced me to simplify something that can be tricky to teach to young students.