Reason 1:Our brains love images and text together.

When we learn with a blend of images and text, we're more likely to be able to retrieve that learning from our brains later, according to dual coding theory. Our brains encode images differently in our long-term memory than than we encode text. Because it's encoding it in two different ways, we have a better chance of being able to retrieve that learning later.

Reason 2: Students create to make meaning.

When students make infographics, they're creating. They're making something to make sense of the world. This is the basis of “constructionism,” a term coined by Seymour Papert. Students are creating mental models to understand the world around them. In fact, the more constructing they do on their own (and the less “follow the recipe” approach), the better.

Reason 3: Brevity and summarizing force us to think.

When I wrote research papers in high school and college, here was my goal: get to the word limit. When I was done writing three pages, 3,000 words, or meeting any other requirement, I could stop. Instead of trying to pick the best facts, details, and words, I was just cramming in words so I could be done.

Let's flip that script. Infographics make students summarize. They have to be brief. When we have limited words, we choose them very carefully.

1. Make a plan.

Get a general idea of what goes in your infographic. When I plan an infographic, I think about the main goal for it and write a title. I'll make a list of things that need to be included in it. I'll also think about what visuals the reader will need to fully understand. 

2. Create your file.

Open your tool of choice and create a new image file. Think about where someone might see your infographic. This can guide the orientation -- portrait or landscape -- and the dimensions of your infographic. Will it be seen on a laptop or Chromebook? (Landscape.) On a mobile device? (Portrait.) Is it going on a website? (Either.) In a research paper? (Either.) Will it be printed? (Either.)

3. Create the title.

This is always my first step when I start creating. I make the title, add a subtitle if I need it (or if I have extra space), and pick out an image to support it. Many times, I'll put it full width across the top of the infographic. Sometimes, I'll put it in a box and put it in the middle of the infographic or even in the top right. You want the title to be big enough to catch the reader's attention but small enough that you have lots of space to provide lots of details in the infographic. I like doing the title first because it lets me see how much space I have left for the rest of the infographic.

4. Create the first image/text item.

I'm a big fan of numbered infographics. This type is the most common infographic I create. I'll make the first item, which is often a number, an icon, and some text. These three items make up a module that I'll repeat over and over again, just changing the number/icon/text each time. As I create the first one, I envision how others will fit on the page. Will I do rows of three? Four? Five? How many rows will fit on the page? Do I have enough content, steps, ideas to fill that many? All of that will play into how big I make that first module and, of course, I can change it at any point.

You don't have to reuse the same "module" (number, icon, text) each time, though! Your modules can vary and be different each time. You can add a quotation, a statistic, an important fact, an image, etc. Some infographics succeed because they're consistent throughout. Others provide variety and contrast to appeal to the eye.

5. Add images and text.

These are what I called "modules" above (number, icon, text). If you're making a numbered infographic, duplicate one of those modules by highlighting all three parts (either shift+click each item or click and drag to highlight). Then use the Ctrl + D keyboard shortcut (Cmd + D on a Mac). That will duplicate everything you highlighted. I'll duplicate a "module" (number, icon, text) and place it next to the first one. Then I'll highlight the two modules and duplicate them so I have four. Then I'll highlight the four and duplicate to make eight. When you duplicate large groups like that, it speeds up the process AND keeps the spacing consistent between modules.

Important point: Spacing between items in your infographics is key. You want to have plenty of "white space" between everything so it doesn't feel too crammed together. That space gives the eye some resting space and keeps your reader from feeling overwhelmed.

6. Fill the page and finish everything.

If you're doing a numbered infographic and just got done duplicating lots of those "modules" (number, icon, text), this is where you change all of the numbers, replace icons, and add text. 

Google Slides/Drawings tip: If you've duplicated your modules on the page, you probably have the same icon over and over on the page. The easiest and fastest way to change those icons isn't to insert new images. Instead, click on the icon you want to change. Find "Change image" in the icon bar and click it. This will update the image in the existing image box, which keeps the original sizing and spacing so you don't have to arrange it again.

If you're varying all of the items on your infographic, you'll slowly fill your page with different items. 

7. Wrap up and make the design sparkle.

Take a good look at your infographic as a whole. Do parts of it seem too crowded? Too spaced out? Is everything consistent and even? Is the title big enough to draw the viewer's attention?

Check your color usage. For me, one or two main colors throughout give the infographic life and make the design feel like it fits. 

Check your font usage. Do you stick to one or two main fonts? I almost always use the same font with the same size for all of the text of the infographic. I'll use a different font for a title sometimes, but I rarely use more than two fonts. Make sure that your text is legible by choosing a readable font and making your text big enough. I usually make text between 10 and 12 points.

Check back over your text to make sure there are no errors and that all of it makes sense.

8. Turn in and share your infographic.

When students finish their infographics, they can turn them in to complete the assignment. If they're using Google Slides or Google Drawings, they should be able to attach their completed infographics directly through Google Classroom. They can always go to File > Download as ... and download it as an image file to turn in, too. This option works well for other learning management systems (LMS) like Canvas and Schoology.

If students create something to be proud of, they should be able to share with an audience greater than just their teacher! Link to student infographics in Classroom or your LMS so others can see. Download the images and put them in a slide presentation to share with others. Post them on social media or a class website. Print them out. Let others see them!