About
The Communications Analyst Workflow is a set of tasks you need to complete to produce part of your presentation, while the discussion is where you check in with your peers and me about the workflow.
Communication analysis is the design, creation, and promotion of text, audio, and visual information produced from data, GIS, and policy analysis. Communications analysts work with spreadsheets, GIS, policy, graphic design, and infographic creation software.
Learning Objectives
By the completion of this workflow, you will be able to:
- Remember what communication analysis is
- Understand the utility of infographic design
- Apply infographic design to your public problem
- Analyze data, GIS, and policy analysis of public problem’s causes or effects
- Evaluate the utility of communication analysis in explaining a public problem
- Create a Communications Analyst Highlight slide
Assignment
The purpose of the following tasks is to: introduce yourself to infographic design software, sketch 3 infographics, and create a presentation slide.
Step 1: Watch short videos on infographic software
The purpose of this step is to learn about web-based infographic software. You are NOT expected to use this software for this workflow. I just want you to know that it exists so in the future when you hear about communications analysis and infographics, you will recall: "Hey, I remember there are websites I can use to create infographics!"
- Watch How to Create an Infographic with Venngage
- As an alternative to watching the video, read How to Make an Infographic in Under 1 Hour.
- Watch Piktochart Tutorial: A Simple Guide to Piktochart for Beginners
- As an alternative to watching the video, read How to Make an Infographic in 30 Minutes.
- Watch How to Create an Infographic in Minutes with Visme - Infographic Design for Beginners
- As an alternative to watching the video, read Infographic Design: Complete Guide for Non-Designers.
- Watch How to Make an Infographic with Canva
- As an alternative to watching the video, read How to Make an Infographic - Ultimate Guide.
Step 2: Sketch/Create 3 infographics that use the data, GIS, or policy analyst workflow results
The purpose of this step is to apply your knowledge of infographics to your specific public problem. The way you apply your knowledge is by sketching 3 infographics related to your public problem. I recommend using pen and paper to sketch them out. You could also use an online infographics maker, like Venngage, Piktochart, Visme, or Canva, but that’s entirely up to you.
- First infographic
- Second infographic
- Third infographic
Step 3: Create your Communications Analyst’s Highlight presentation slide
The purpose of this step is to reflect on these steps by explaining what you liked or disliked about the process and include at least 1 of the 3 infographics you sketched or created.
A Google Slides Presentation Template is available to assist you in preparing this slide for your presentation.
Discussion
As you progress through the public policy project and the analyst workflows, please check in with me and your peers at our discussion.
- Post any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions that you'd like to share with me and your peers.
- If you don't have any questions, comments, concerns or suggestions, then feel free to post that as well.
Estimated Time
An estimated 2 hours is needed to complete this assignment and discussion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need to include the file or link to my completed slide in the discussion?
- One aspect of the public policy project is that you are given autonomy to progress through your work.
- You do not need to upload or link to your presentation in your check in post.
Can I include a file or link to my slide in my discussion post?
- Some students use the discussion to hold themselves personally accountable for making progress on the public policy project.
- Therefore, you are welcome to include a file or link to your slide or presentation. I will review and provide my feedback in the discussion.