Connecting Organic Chemistry Concepts with Real-World Contexts by Creating Infographics

TLDR

Infographics increasingly serve to communicate complex topics to the public by combining visually appealing graphics with compelling narratives that engage and inform audiences. The assignment was designed to help students connect course concepts to their daily lives while practicing science communication. Students created infographics that were evaluated on layout effectiveness, content quality and clarity, and source reliability. Students mainly focused on food, beverage, cosmetic, and medicinal compounds, reflected strong links between learning and infographic topics, and the activity can be adapted to other educational settings.

Abstract

Infographics are increasingly used to communicate complex topics to the public. By coupling visually appealing graphics with compelling narratives, infographics can both engage and inform the audience. We designed an assignment wherein students create infographics with the dual purpose of helping them connect course concepts to their daily lives and practice science communication. Most students focused on compounds found in food, beverages, cosmetics, and medicine. The infographics were assessed based on the effectiveness of the layout, the quality and clarity of the graphical and textual content, and the reliability of the cited sources. Student reflections on the assignment revealed strong connections between their course learning and their infographic topics. Although this assignment was part of a college laboratory course, it can be adapted for alternative settings.