Category Archives: infographics

Vaping in the Back 40s?

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I’m teaching my sophomores how to read infographics and
other informational texts and kicked off the unit today with a look at the
following infographic on vaping:
The infographic brought about some important discussions I
overheard and also participated in with smaller groups. We talked about how
Northgate High School has a huge problem with vaping and is trying to crack
down. Students here said they don’t see it as much of a problem.
Some interesting takeaways:
·     
“We have uniforms and so we try to rebel with
those and then we don’t go so far as to rebel with vaping”
·     
“People will probably go over to DLS to vape …
the girls’ restrooms there are not monitored at all”
·     
“Or the Back 40s”
·     
“No one here has ever had a conversation with me
like, ‘Don’t vape.’”
Students asked me what I would do if I caught someone …
would I tell them to put it away or would I confiscate it? I didn’t have an
answer. I would probably run to check with Caitlyn!
As a
parent, I was to assume my kids won’t vape. As a teacher at Carondelet, I want
to assume my students won’t vape. But that’s not realistic. Perhaps we have a policy or a protocol I am unaware of. Do you think we
need to have more schoolwide efforts to address this issue?

Keeping Myself Accountable in a Simple Visual Way

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Today I was working on a project Gaeby is developing, on themes and movements in the Industrial Revolution and  if and how they are still true/active today. I am encountering numbers and statistics as I look into this.  I enjoy making data visible,  and  I wondered if VennGage, a tool I have used a little before, would work as a infographic tool for her students. It has lovely interactive capabilities and amazing charting and graphics.

I like to give tools a real life test, and thought of my project spreadsheet.  I keep track of projects I do with teachers (that do not have to do directly with Schoology) here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QVP3F0r2s83H1GU1TeMLW-Ej4TsSVM-qtlAzLmhQZrs/edit#gid=0  I do this to help me find, remember and reflect on what worked and what didn’t. I decided to add a query on the project sheet on if these projects contained students opportunities at the 4 Cs  (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity) and a goal of mine- quick and actionable feedback.

Here is the result.  I am glad I am doing this-I see I need to consider collaboration more.  The feedback  visual probably looks more impressive than it should, because I gave Membean a check for quick feedback and I am not sure that is true.   I need to discuss with the English department if this is their perception. I am disappointed in the creativity, and  actually in the number of projects.  I need to reach out more.  I  As I consider this, maybe I will make one by department too, to see what that visual might reveal.  A fun thing about this post is the graphic is embedded, so when I change graphic, this post will change, too.  I love that sort of thing. 

PS. Still not certain this is right tool for Gaeby’s project. But it may be for yours!