Abstract
A new breed of tools is emerging that allow faster and easier creation of infographics, enabling users without deep skills in graphic design or the software that supports it. These tools provide templates, examples, and drag-and-drop functionality that allow creators to focus their efforts on the concept rather than also having to worry about creating the graphic. The nature of these tools encourages fast prototyping, allowing students to create, assess, and revise many versions of a graphic in a short amount of time. These tools also offer the opportunity to expand visual learning and thinking into fields where visual aspects of communication are not always included.
The 7 Things You Should Know About... series from the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) provides concise information on emerging learning technologies. Each brief focuses on a single technology and describes what it is, where it is going, and why it matters to teaching and learning. Use these briefs for a no-jargon, quick overview of a topic and share them with time-pressed colleagues.
In addition to the 7 Things briefs, you may find other ELI resources useful in addressing teaching, learning, and technology issues at your institution. To learn more, please visit the ELI Resources page.