
BACKGROUND: Types of Infographics
Definition: An infographic is a design or image that presents data in a way that enhances meaning and instant understanding of facts/data.Once you've identified the data that you want to visualize, the next step is to try out different ways to pick out what type of graph, chart, diagram or icon best shows off the significance of the information. While this may seem intimidating, keep in mind there isn't just one"right" way of turning your information into something visual. However, there are some best practices that can help you figure out where to start. In this Youth Radio handout, we've put together a list of some of the most common types of data visualizations along with some tips on when and how to use them.

ACTIVITY: Finding the best visual for your data
Objective: Students will develop their critical thinking skills related to data visualization, including how to determine which types of graphs fit the data. Time: 1+ hour Grade: 7th or higher Materials:- Video/audio player
- Graph paper/pencil OR graphing calculator OR computer with access to the Internet
- Handouts (see below)

Average Daily Population of Alameda County's Juvenile HallAsk your students to vote on which of the following types of graphs would they think would best match the data. Why?
- 2009 - 232.3 people (average) per day
- 2014 - 156.3 people (average) per day
- (a) A bar graph
- (b) A pie chart
- (c) A line graph
- Look at each graph. On first glance, how would you interpret each graph?
- Which one is the most clear to you? Why?
- If the average daily population of juvenile hall is going down, how would you expect that to affect conditions? Why?
- How might you measure this assumption? What data might you ask for?

Alameda County Juvenile Hall Statistics |
2009 | 2014 | % change |
Average Daily Population (Juvenile Hall) | 232.3 | 156.3 | -32% |
Total number of fights | 172 | 179 | +4% |
Total number of incidents involving Pepper Spray | 137 | 147 | +7% |
Total number of incident involving restraints | 78 | 225 | +188% |
- Look at each graph. On first glance, how would you interpret each graph?
- Which one is the most clear to you? Why?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- A math teacher's video tutorial about common types of graphs
- A website introduction to types of graphs
- A list of free and fun data visualization tools from Poynter.org
A FEW AWESOME & INTERACTIVE INFOGRAPHICS:
- Ever wonder which rappers have the biggest flow vocabulary? This interactive infographic charts the word choices of your favorite artists.
- Game of Thrones fans rejoiced when the Washington Post put together a flow chart of all 456 deaths in the popular HBO fantasy series.
- Ever aspire to be a professional athlete? Well the odds aren't always in your favor. Check out this interactive infographic by Ryan Sleeper.
- Get an interactive tour of the complete history of social media, with help from a fuzzy, blue, animated yeti.
- Cute graphics and an interactive timeline make this history of the game console an interesting infographic.

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