Cartoons and Comics Websites Review
This website was by far the most advanced with all the capabilities that it had in order to create a full panel of comics and is for the power users. I found that the process took some getting used to as things were well laid out on the menu but with so many options it was not user friendly for someone who was trying it out for the first time. I really liked the selection of characters and all the backgrounds and animations and effects you could do. The whole creation of the comic was easy once I figured out where everything was. I can't recommend this website though as there was no way to download, share, or print without paying first. I ended up having to take screenshots which is why the pictures are small and blurry. It was really frustrating to spend that much time learning only to not get a good final product. Students would enjoy learning all the ins and outs but until you can download your finished product without paying I wouldn't show it to my students.
The 3rd website that I used was MakeBeliefs Comix and it was the simplest one as you can tell it was designed specifically for teachers and students to make the process as easy as possible. Not having to sign in was huge as you can just do something quickly but they also give you the option to save your work by signing in as that was smart on their part as you know that students will say they don't want something or don't like their work but then get upset when it goes missing. The templates were good to choose from and there were enough effects to keep you occupied. I chose to use a template that gives you a picture and then you write about it. I added more scenes in so that the dinosaur could travel around the world and galaxy if it wanted to. Students would find this activity fun and this website is a really quick and easy way to bring excitement to writing.
There are many ways that a librarian could show teachers how to incorporate these fun websites into the learning process. Students of all ages enjoy comics so using this in high school writing would be just as exciting as in the lower grades. I showed a couple of ways that you could use them by using them as a writing prompt so that students could either tell a story about themselves through a personal narrative or they could make the story up with their imagination. Telling historical fiction through comics would be a way to integrate these websites in Social Studies. Comic books are really popular right now and this is one way to make sure that you can help keep kids interested in learning!
Matt,
ReplyDeleteYour comics are fun. I love how you added yourself into one. Be sure to use it in your space this year, the kids will get a kick out of it!
Using comics to create personal narratives sounds like a great activity for an ELA classroom - or in the library! I may have to steal this for my own space. Thanks for the idea!
~Kayla
Matt, I also had so much fun creating in Pixton, then to be let down by not being able to share. I did not make screenshots, then tried later and still failed. Of all three Pixton was my favorite! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMatt, I loved your idea of using the cartoons/comics as writing prompts. Students are often not willing to write or see it as a chore and do the bare minimum. But putting it in a cartoon or comic may make it more of a creative challenge that students are willing to embark on as they may see it less as work and more as fun. And writing their own historical fiction related to the current study in a Social Studies class is a great idea. Thank you for sharing!
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