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These lessons do not provide finished products. Here are a few links that show you what educators and students have done with Comic Life:
Government in the Colonies
Gold Rush
Examples on plasq.com (Not all of these are education-related. There is a really good one toward the bottom of the site that presents a very interesting idea: an interview of a poet, by Liz and Jem.)
What are the benefits of Comic Life?
1. Engaging. Comic Life activities can replace some of the less interesting but common tasks, such as timelines, plot summaries or story mapping, and listing information.
2. Utilizing multiple skill levels. Composing a comic can involve a range of skills and cognitive processes. Depending on the assignment, students may have to organize, analyze, and synthesize information. For example, having to compose a comic exploring the setting of a text requires students to visually compose their interpretation of the setting, rather than simply compiling descriptive words.
3. Appeals to multiple intelligences. Creating a comic with Comic Life may involve composing and taking photographs, drawing illustrations, writing, creating a logical sequence of events or frames, and provides a hands-on experience. Students may have the option to work individually or in groups, and visual learners would gain a great deal from the activity.
4. Meaningful learning. Comic Life can be used in a way that allows students to relate material to their lives and take an active part in their learning. For example, students may choose to act out a text, photograph events or actions, and create a comic from the photographs.
5. Appeals to all students. Using Comic Life is not only fun, but is also allows students to design according to their own personalities and aesthetic value. For instance, there are plenty of pink styles for the girls who may not initially like the ideas of a “boys” comic.
What are the possible constraints of Comic Life?
1. Expense. Comic Life Education is available for educators. The cost of one program and license is $20, and for 25 to 50, the cost is between $200 and $300. This is a fair price in the realm of software, but considering the constant problem in school divisions, it may be hard to get funding for the purchase. School divisions that have little funding, few computers, and little technology will not be able to afford Comic Life. Although there are free sites with alternatives, these greatly limit creativity and imagination. Additionally, if you choose to print, color printing can be very expensive.
2. Format restrictions. Comic Life uses only JPEG images, which means you must have access to a digital camera, scanner, and/or an image converter program, which may add to the financial constraints, unless the equipment is already available.
3. Time-consuming. Creating comics can require a lot of time. Students will need tutorials before creating their comic. Also, taking photographs, finding existing photographs, or composing drawings can take quite a bit of time to do. The students will also need to take time carefully planning their comics before heading to the computer to realize them.
4. Simple format. While Comic Life provides quite a bit of variety in designing comics, the program is still limiting in its capabilities and uses. It is certainly not an all-purpose tool.
5 Multiple computer access. In order to make any Comic Life activity most efficient regarding time, multiple computers need to be available simultaneously. This would require reserving the computer lab for both the tutorial and the actual day of creation, which may present a problem with schools that have limited resources. Also, it is possible that it may take more than one class period to create the comic on the computer.
Tips for Teachers
1. Review the tutorials and explore the program extensively before your students use the program so you can be most helpful in helping them realize their final product. You need to understand what the program involves and what it can and cannot do to cut down on the time it takes to complete the activity.
2. Provide a tutorial and print out steps or instructions for the students so they know the program before they create their comics.
3. Be very clear about the purpose and goal of the assignment. You must understand what you want students to do with Comic Life before unleashing them to do it.
4. Plan the process very carefully. Students will need time to brainstorm ideas, learn the program, gather or take photographs, and design the final product.
5. Have students sketch out their ideas and designs before the computer session(s). Much like typing a final draft of a paper, they should go through drafts of their designs, including captions and titles, so they know exactly what they are putting together when they use Comic Life.
6. Be careful! Comic Life can be endless fun! You need to be particularly attentive to keep the students on task and focused to make sure they are creating their comic and not just playing around.
Additional information and resources:
Wiki page on Comic Life
OS X Applications – Comic Life
Comics and graphic novels
Practical Ideas
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