This past month, I’ve been exploring the world of infographics using Piktochart to create flow charts and anchor charts for workshops and classrooms. I have to admit it; I’m having a lot of fun with this.

This infographic fever began during my work with the Sir Guy Carleton High School team of teachers. Sir Guy is a very unique high school; the population of students typically have Individual Education Plans, and most will be preparing for the world of work or community college. These students often have many challenges both inside and outside of school, and the teachers who work at the school are some of the most dedicated and caring professionals I’ve encountered.

Under the provincial funding of SSI, we met several times deciding to co creating lessons which would engage students and encourage them to answer their own questions. We realized that we would have to scaffold the learning so that students will answer the lower order questions themselves, and eventually ask higher order questions. One of our goals is to create independent and confident learners.

This was my first infographic created with help from an English teacher with students in a locally developed English class. It is meant to be read like a flow chart beginning at the top and ending with a flip book of Questions. Black covered flip books will sit on the desks with categories of questions designed to guide the student.

For example: If a student has a question about writing they have several prompts in the flip book.

How should I organize my writing?

How much writing is expected?

Can you give me feedback on my writing so far?

The math teacher in our group had slightly different needs, so we redesigned the infographic poster to reflect the needs of the math classroom.Other teachers at the school have requests for similar posters hoping that students will problem solve before coming to the teacher to ask a question.

However, I think it can be a difficult aspect of behaviour to navigate. When life is hectic and busy and students ask simple questions, it is natural to want to give students the answer. The greater challenge is to redirect students to the infographic or respond with a question.

So here is my If/Then Statement:

If the whole school celebrates the question and promotes students answering their own questions through infographic anchor charts, will students gain confidence in solving their own problems and become more independent and confident learners?