Promoting Information Literacy and Visual Literacy Skills in Undergraduate Students Using Infographics

Abstract

ABSTRACT Because research and communication proficiency is ubiquitous in the academic and professional world, teaching students the necessary information literacy (IL) and visual literacy (VL) skills has become increasingly important. Integrating IL and VL pedagogy into substantive coursework can enhance students’ comprehension of the material and teach them to make a meaningful contribution to public awareness and understanding of political science. Yet, faculty often find it challenging to include instruction in these skills with necessary coverage of substantive course material. This article discusses the use of an infographic assignment in an introductory American government course as a tool to teach literacy skills and to reinforce substantive course concepts. Encouraging students to distill academic research into an infographic requires them to understand the process of information creation, the role of visuals in communication, and how scholarship acts as a conversation—all key components of literacy in higher education.