0.5 Tech module: using comic life in the classroom  (Page 2/3)

If you are interested in checking out Comic Life, you can download a 30-day free trial or purchase the program at (External Link) (Mac users) or (External Link) (Windows users).

How Can I Use Comic Life in My Classroom?

With Comic Life, students can create their own comics and engage is the creative power and learning benefits of the medium. Comics can be created by students of all ages and can be used in all subject areas. Creating comics requires students to focus on how and why information and ideas are presented, rather than simply what is presented. The tool also allows students to develop high cognitive skills, given that they must accurately and concisely represent words visually. In order to compose even a one-page comic, students must understand concepts on a deeper level, requiring them to organize, analyze, and synthesize information. Thus, Comic Life can engage students both cognitively and creatively.

Comic Life presents a plethora of learning possibilities! It can be utilized for myriad purposes: illustrate concepts, compare/contrast concepts, character analysis, plot analysis, present an argument, represent or express interpretations, show cause and effect, demonstrate processes, and so much more. Teachers can also join in the fun, using Comic Life to present information in a more visually appealing and interesting format.

The beauty of Comic Life is its flexibility. Projects can be done individually or in groups and used for long-term or short-term assignments. Activities can be as simple as summarizing main points or as involved as creative writing. While I was hard-pressed to find specific lessons utilizing Comic Life, I found many lessons involving other forms of comic creation, which can easily be applied to the Comic Life program. The following are a few of my favorite lessons:

Comic Makeovers: Examining Race, Class, Ethnicity, and Gender in the Media

(External Link)

The Comic Makeovers lesson is tailored for 9-12 graders and can be used in English, history, journalism, or other relevant social studies classes. This lesson involves students exploring existing comics that use stereotyped representations of race, gender, class, and ethnicity. Students then “re-envision” them by creating new comics with more realistic images.

Ride the Rock Cycle

(External Link)

This is a fun earth science activity for grades 6-8, which illustrates how Comic Life can be used in science classes. Students explore the rock cycle and then create a story about “Roger, a metamorphic rock,” depicting and explaining “transitions” he’s gone through in his life.

Teaching Literary Devices

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This lesson is for English classes, grades 6-12. Students use Comic Life to create comics using literary devices taught in class. Teaching Literary Devices is a good example of a short-term activity utilizing Comic Life.

All the News That’s Fit to Print

(External Link)

This lesson is geared toward ESL students in grades 9-12. The lesson involves students reading several variations of Cinderella and then creating a newspaper, including a comic section, on the story. This lesson illustrates how creating comics can help English Language Learners and could be easily adapted to use Comic Life.