Eclectic Technology

ISTE has released this new infographic that shares data on how technology in impacting our learners. It is divided into the following categories:

* Technology is changing how how students learn.

* Technology is changing how teachers teach.

* Together we're changing education - one classroom at a time.

Before clicking through to the infographic take a moment to think about how technology is used in your school or classroom. Then check out the infographic and see if these statistics surprise you. There may be some new avenues you would like to explore.

This detailed infographic provides an in-depth look at learning analytics. It begins by describing traditional education as a school bus, with the expectation that all students will get to "the finish line together."

The infographic then turns to personalized learning, where students would work at their pace and in their way to master material.

Analytics play a key role in personalized education. Why? If you use a tool that provides you with the ability to measure, collect, analyze and report data about your students you have the opportunity to adapt curriculum. The infographic shares seven areas that may be considered.

From here the infographic moves to the learning analytics cycle which moves to four areas:

* Descriptive - What has happened?

* Diagnostic - Why has it happened?

* Predictive - What will happen?

* Prescriptive - What should I do?

What comes next? The role of the teacher, which is followed by a What's Next section.

There is much to learn about learning analytics in this infographic. You may download the complete infographic from the site.

Last year I used fast foods as a way to teach students graphing (and nutrition). When surveying students as to their favorite fast food restaurants McDonald's was often at the top.

This infographic provides a great deal of information that may be new to students. This infographic shows:

* Just how big McDonald's is (and the number may surprise you)

* The one location where the Golden Arches are not golden

* Where McDonald's are located (a world map with percentages of McDonald's based on area)

* The one fast food restaurant that has more locations that McDonald's

* The number of employees worldwide (as well as the number of hamburgers and customers served)

And much more.

You can have fun with maps that look at fast food locations across the US as a tool for students to learn how to interpret visualizations as well as do some calculations. One source you might check out is listed below.

* A map of all the McDonald's in the U.S. (published in 2009 and updated in 2010 at http://www.datapointed.net/2010/09/distance-to-nearest-mcdonalds-sept-2010/

Are you wondering what your infographic needs to be a great infographic? This post disects an infographic, sharing what is important to include. Sections include:

* A brief look at the history of infographics

* Does it have all the important parts

   * Gotta have brains: data and story

   * Ooo la la visualization

   * Shareability

Additional information as well as links to resources are located under the infographic. If you plan on having students create infographics this year you may want to share this as a tool for discussion as students review infographics and learn to identify great infographics.