Associate Professor Univ. of North Carolina, Pembroke Pembroke, North Carolina, United States
Disclosure(s):
Crystal C. Walline, PhD: No financial relationships to disclose
Introduction/Rationale: An infographic is a brief document that emphasizes the use of charts, figures, or diagrams to graphically represent information or data. There are many advantages to using infographics including concise representation of complex concepts or data, visual attractiveness, and low production time. Since infographics prioritize space for imagery, they rarely contain dense text which allows readers to view and process the information quickly.
Methods: Creating an infographic to illustrate a complex disease or topic in immunology is a useful assignment for an undergraduate course because it requires students to master immunological concepts and disseminate pertinent information to a general audience. Further, this project requires students to create drafts, perform peer reviews, and create an 11 x 17 inch infographic poster, bibliography, and reflective essay. Students follow a detailed rubric to complete the multistep process which is robust enough to be used as an alternative assessment (i.e. in place of a traditional exam grade).
Results: Alternative assessments offer more inclusive and equitable ways to assess knowledge and skill acquisition. Importantly, the infographic project fosters artistic creativity and encourages students to read and synthesis information from primary literature and share their findings with a diverse audience.
Conclusion: Undergraduate and graduate programs in science frequently focus on training students to perform scientific writing – writing for a professional audience in a particular area or field. However, mastering the art of science writing – presenting science to a general or lay audience in a non-technical way, is a valuable skill, which should be emphasized in an undergraduate immunology course. Considering a 2019 study by the National Literacy Institute determined that only 12% of the American public is considered proficient regarding health literacy, it is more important than ever to train emerging scientists to master science writing and communication.
