Comics!
Ever wanted to create your own comic online? Well today I'll show you a few tools that you can use and give you my thoughts on them. Comics can be a great way to connect to students and make a lesson much more interesting. I've used comics in a few different ways in the classroom, like using particular graphic novels as part of a lesson and having students create their own comic strips. One of my favorite beginning of the year activities is having the students create comic strips demonstrating lab safety rules. Though they usually do them by hand, I do give them an option of turning in their work digitally. And now I have a few more tools to offer!
Pixton
Pixton is a pretty neat tool that even has educator/ student accounts. The interface is pretty easy to use, and it has plenty of options in the graphics you can put into your strip. With an educator account, you can set up a class for your students to join. The program has you create an avatar for yourself and it creates a class photo from them! It's a pretty cool program but it does have a cost. If you can convince your school to pay for a license, than it will be much more useful. With the free trial you cannot export any of the comics you make. The comic below I made on Pixton and then took a screenshot of it.
Makebeliefscomix
For this webtool, you don't have to create an account. That's a pretty nice feature if you just want to create something quickly without getting constant e-mails from the company. That said, it doesn't quite have as much in the way of variety and quality as pixton. The controls weren't hard to use, but left a little to be desired. Still if you don't have anything too specific in mind for your comix it's a nice tool to use.
ToonDoo
ToonDoo's tagline is that it is "the worlds fastest way to make comics!" I have to disagree. I had so much trouble with this program. Every step of the way I was having problems. I even restarted my computer and switched browsers. I tried to make a comic 4 or 5 times before I gave up. The short time it was working, I liked it. This was the only of the three that gave me an option to draw. But the good times wouldn't last, so the picture below is a photo of one of my error screens that never resolved. It may be my computer, internet connection, or other unknown computer issue that is the problem, but I just couldn't get it to work.
BookCreator
One program I've used before is called BookCreator. I really like this program. You can make ebooks like the name implies, but you can also create comics or graphic novels. It only works on Google Chrome, and works with your Google email. Like Pixton, you can also create classes on your account to use for assignments. Unlike Pixton, the program is free! It doesn't have the same amount of images available like the previous programs, but you can import pictures, make drawings, and even add sound! Here is a link to one I created: https://read.bookcreator.com/6bT8LO67WKMYytuUvGtUngB6U5E2/uO9GeE8iQN6xUJJO7XPe8A
I believe in the power of comics in the classroom and will continue to use them. This past school year, I made a presentation on BookCreator to my science department and it was received rather well. Now that I have some new tools, I'll have to show them these as well, and continue to encourage them to incorporate these kind of projects into their lessons.
Pixton
Pixton is a pretty neat tool that even has educator/ student accounts. The interface is pretty easy to use, and it has plenty of options in the graphics you can put into your strip. With an educator account, you can set up a class for your students to join. The program has you create an avatar for yourself and it creates a class photo from them! It's a pretty cool program but it does have a cost. If you can convince your school to pay for a license, than it will be much more useful. With the free trial you cannot export any of the comics you make. The comic below I made on Pixton and then took a screenshot of it.
Makebeliefscomix
For this webtool, you don't have to create an account. That's a pretty nice feature if you just want to create something quickly without getting constant e-mails from the company. That said, it doesn't quite have as much in the way of variety and quality as pixton. The controls weren't hard to use, but left a little to be desired. Still if you don't have anything too specific in mind for your comix it's a nice tool to use.
ToonDoo
ToonDoo's tagline is that it is "the worlds fastest way to make comics!" I have to disagree. I had so much trouble with this program. Every step of the way I was having problems. I even restarted my computer and switched browsers. I tried to make a comic 4 or 5 times before I gave up. The short time it was working, I liked it. This was the only of the three that gave me an option to draw. But the good times wouldn't last, so the picture below is a photo of one of my error screens that never resolved. It may be my computer, internet connection, or other unknown computer issue that is the problem, but I just couldn't get it to work.
BookCreator
One program I've used before is called BookCreator. I really like this program. You can make ebooks like the name implies, but you can also create comics or graphic novels. It only works on Google Chrome, and works with your Google email. Like Pixton, you can also create classes on your account to use for assignments. Unlike Pixton, the program is free! It doesn't have the same amount of images available like the previous programs, but you can import pictures, make drawings, and even add sound! Here is a link to one I created: https://read.bookcreator.com/6bT8LO67WKMYytuUvGtUngB6U5E2/uO9GeE8iQN6xUJJO7XPe8A
I believe in the power of comics in the classroom and will continue to use them. This past school year, I made a presentation on BookCreator to my science department and it was received rather well. Now that I have some new tools, I'll have to show them these as well, and continue to encourage them to incorporate these kind of projects into their lessons.
Thank you for the humor in your comics! I too had trouble with ToonDoo. My paint is still drying!!! I think the students will have fun with these. I wish they had spots of emptiness and the kids could draw their own pictures and create their own images. That comes from the Art teacher in me. Great job!
ReplyDeleteGreat comic strips. We all got the summer graduate school blues.
ReplyDeleteI also had problems using ToonDoo, I was getting frustrated with it. You did a great job on your comics, a lot more creative than I was!
ReplyDeleteYour comics were great! And your creation on BookCreator was Awesome! I love the narration! I bet the kids really enjoyed learning about mitosis. And I know they will never forget the process!! Great idea! Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteUgh, ToonDoo was not my favorite either! I didn't think it was easy nor did it look very nice. I was surprised to find how many of these programs I had to screenshot/snip to save! Why does it take a premium program to save something I created!? Did you have the same troubles?
ReplyDeleteYes, that and more with ToonDoo. It was really irritating.
DeleteYou are not the first I see that had issues with ToonDoo. I read on someone else's blog that they kept getting the same "waiting on paint to dry" message. I didn't have any issues with it. I think it was one of the easiest ones to work with, however, I didn't try to draw. Maybe that feature is the one having issues.
ReplyDeletePS. You were right on point with your first comic. I loved it!!
I was excited to read your post on this assignment. I knew your comics would be great and you delivered!
ReplyDeletePixton was an easy program to use. I agree in that it would be great if our districts could purchase a license to access all of the tools provided on Pixton. Students would definitely enjoy all that it has to offer.
ReplyDelete