Infographics

Infographics

Overview

Infographics can be an efficient and engaging way to visually display information when used effectively. Before you create an infographic, review the following considerations to determine if that is the best format and learn how to make the text-based media alternative so it is accessible. 

What to Consider When Deciding to Create an Infographic for an Online Course

Consider the following questions to determine if an infographic is the best way to present the information. If you decide an infographic is appropriate, see the section below to learn how to make it accessible.
  1. What is the purpose of the infographic?  
    (Examples of 9 Types of Infographics with guidance on when to use each type)
    1. Primary Purposes
      1. Clarifying difficult concepts
      2. Displaying data
      3. Telling a story
      4. Presenting historical timelines
    2. Secondary Purposes
      1. Providing content in a meaningful way to support UDL principles
      2. Eye-catching way to display text
  2. What is the best way to implement the infographic?
    1. Embedded in the Learning Management System (LMS) as a Page
    2. File Download
    3. Printed (not recommended for use in an online course)
  3. What is the best file type to save the infographic in?
    1. PDF – content that includes interactivity such as hyperlinks (though hyperlinks should be avoided)
    2. Image File (JPG, PNG) or PDF– for publishing/embedding static content into web/LMS pages

How to Make an Infographic Accessible

Once it has been decided that an infographic is an appropriate format to present the information, keep in mind it must also meet accessibility standards.
  1. Image (JPG, PNG) infographics cannot in and of themselves be made accessible since they are a static image and are too complex to describe in alt text, a media alternative must be provided.
  2. PDF infographics can be made accessible using Adobe Acrobat Pro, however, consider if it is an efficient use of time to do so based on the complexity of the information. 
Regardless of the format, image or PDF, any time an infographic is created, a text-based media alternative must also be created. A media alternative for an infographic is typically a Word document with the same information in an accessible text format. This meets accessibility standards for an infographic and supports Universal Design principles of delivering content in multiple ways. 

If you have created your own infographic and need assistance making the infographic accessible and/or creating the text-based media alternative, you may reach out to the ELD Team for help. 

Example Infographic and Corresponding Media Alternative:
  1. Effective Nursing Communication Infographic (PDF)
  2. Effective Nursing Communication Media Alternative (Word)
Fun Fact: Florence Nightingale, nurse and statistician, was creating infographics back in the 19th Century! Check out her famous Diagram of the Causes of Mortality in the Army in the East, 1858.

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