Blog Post 6: Piktochart and the Importance of Device Agnostic Web Tools
Why should we use agnostic
device web 2.0 tools?
When using technology in when teaching, it’s important
that tools can be easily accessed for all learners. That’s why it important to
ensure that free state-based tools or 2.0 web tools are device agnostic (Moorefield-Lang,
2014). By ensuring that tools can be used on all devices, learning will be made
easier. For example, a student using a program on a school Chromebook may need
to use the same tool at home on their iPad to complete their work. If the piece
of technology was not device agnostic, this would hinder students’ abilities to
learn.
Along with using agnostic tools to
further student learning, using agnostic device resources can help transform
the way librarians collect data as well. Instead of relying solely on numerical
“output measures,” 2.0 tools can help personalize the evidence needed to
ensuring that library assessment needs are truly accurate to what the patrons
need (Valenza, 2015). For example, using online survey tools, like Google
Forms, can help librarians collect more personalized data in the form of a
survey, and librarians can organize the results in a clear and concise way to more
easily sift through results.
Additionally, it’s important to ensure that these data collecting tools are device agnostic, so that all patrons can easily participate (Valenza, 2015). For example, if a web tool that only worked on iPhones was being used, the results would be skewed. By using web 2.0 tools that can work on all devices, every patrons has the ability to participate, thus making the results more reliable. Overall, using device agnostic tools for students and data collection will in turn help create future ready librarians, which is the overarching goal. As future ready librarians, the number one goal needs to be to create services and a collection that best supports the needs of our students (Luthala et al., 2015). Librarians can work to create a future ready library and foster that into the school environment by using more personalized assessments and introducing teachers to appropriate web 2.0 tools.
New Device Agnostic Web
2.0 Tool:
Piktochart
is a free visual communication tool that helps users easily create aesthetically
pleasing visual content. Some of the template formats it has for users include:
reports, presentations, infographics, social media graphics, flyers, and more
(Piktochart, 2020). This tool is extremely easy for new users to navigate
because there are so many pre-created templates for users to choose from. These
templates can be edited to fir the needs of each user. Additionally, users can easily
collaborate with another on Piktochart, making it a great resource for collaborative
projects as well. Here is an example of a Piktochart that has already been created.
It is very visually appealing, organized, grabs the readers attention, and is
still filled with valuable information.
If you would like to know more about Piktochart, below is a quick video introducing Piktochart and everything is has to offer:
To begin using the tool, go to piktochart.com. Once you are on the main page, look at the tool bar at the top and hover over the formats tab; you will see a list of options appear. Next, click on the type of graphic you would like to make. Next, scroll through the various templates piktochart has already created. Click on the one you would like. Then, you will just click through each box that has already been pre-populated and enter the information you need. If something seems a little tricky, there are quick videos for you to watch throughout the page. Now that you’ve been introduced to the Piktochart, here is a video showing users how to create new content with Piktochart if they are completely new to design tools. This video offers step by step instructions to ensure that all users can easily work the communication tool.
Though you have seen how easy Piktochart is to use, are you still concerned with how to connect it to teachers and/or to the classroom? Mike Petty created a blog “How to Use Piktochart in Any (and Every) Classroom” that will surely inspire teachers to see how Piktochart can connect to their content area (2016). Overall, Piktochart is a great device agnostic tool that can be used over many different curriculums to not only help teach students the needed curriculum, but to challenge their learning process to go beyond merely taking notes and remembering information.
References
Retrieved from https://piktochart.com/blog/piktochart-classroom-infographics-education/
https://home.edweb.net/webinar/future-ready-librarians/
tools. Library
Media Connection, 33(1), 8-9.
Retrieved from https://piktochart.com/blog/use-piktochart-every-classroom/
from piktochart.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTRxyxDVHuw
[Image]. Retrieved from https://uxdesign.cc/how-a-device-agnostic-approach-could-improve-your-design-190585fdb0e7
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