Assessing infographics as a tool of visual Communication in teaching and learning

Abstract

In recent years, infographics have gained popularity in online teaching and learning as a means of visually presenting information. While widely used as a communication tool, little is known about how infographics influence students’ interpretation and understanding of concepts compared to text-only materials. The literature highlights challenges such as poor application of design principles, ineffective use of layout and colour, and inclusion of irrelevant visuals, which may affect learning outcomes. This paper investigates the influence of infographics on students’ interpretation and understanding of art and design concepts in comparison to text-only information. The study was conducted at the Department of Design and Studio Art at the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, South Africa, during the 2018/2019 academic years. Quantitative data were collected from two experimental groups: one group received text-only instructional material (N = 23), while the other received infographic-based material (N = 20). The findings reveal no significant difference in mean percentage scores between the two groups. Both groups performed similarly in the assessment, with average scores showing no meaningful distinction, suggesting that the use of infographics did not significantly enhance students’ understanding compared to text-only content.