This week’s Web 2.0 Weekly will be taking a look at an easy-to-use graph creation tool hosted by the National Center for Educational Statistics called Create A Graph.

As we all know, graphs are powerful tools to quickly convey often complex information.  However, certain types of graphs can be difficult to construct by hand.  Microsoft Excel actually contains powerful graphing tools, but may be a little complex for some simpler tasks.  Enter Create A Graph.

Create A Graph allows you to create bar, area, line, pie, and X-Y graphs.  It also gives you many options for labeling and formatting your graphs.

Strengths:

• Many options for types, labels, and formatting of your graphs
• Graphs can be exported in many popular formats for printing, inclusion in documents, or embedding on a website
• Site includes nice graph examples and tutorials

Weaknesses:

• Graphs that aren’t viewed or changed after 30 days are deleted
• No collection of user graphs
• Graphs can only be shared through email or posting of a complicated link
• Not appropriate for some sophisticated graph types

Create A Graph is of interest to anyone wanting to create graphs quickly and easily.  Graphs can be easily exported for inclusion in documents or websites.  The program is easy to use but may not be appropriate for students below middle school level due to its complexity.

Create A Graph is free to us and requires no registration of any kind.  It is hosted on a U.S. government website.