ComicLife

Using ComicLife in the Classroom

Leanne Forrest – December 2009

Why Comics?

• increasingly more popular genres of literature +

• engaging format valuable medium with which to reach students =

• graphic novels and comics are a valuable medium with which to reach students.

Graphic Novel WebsiteGraphic Novels Booklist

What is ComicLife?

• User-friendly• Easy to learn• Using images or photographs,

students can create comics • Completed comics can be exported as

JPEG’s, Quicktime or html formats for printing, posting, or emailing.

Using ComicLife

• Accessible to all students in Regina Catholic Schools on all computers– N-Computing– Laptops– Mac or PC

• Remember you will have to use SchoolConnect to create a class icon and assign the software in TeacherTools.

Using ComicLife

• Select a template• Drag images from the library• Add:

– Text Boxes– Effects (to make images appear like comics)– Dialogue Bubbles– Titles

• Templates and styles can vary from page to page.

Quick Help Sheet Online Manual

ComicLife in the Classroom

• Creating timelines• Present an argument• Analyze a character• Tell a story/Summarize a story• Report on a topic, event or

process• Show cause and effect

Teachers can also create many TEMPLATES in ComicLife to present or summarize work in a

visually appealing format.

Examples of Classroom

Uses

• Cause and Effect• Periodic Table• Newsletter• A Day in the Life: History• Habitat Studies• Writing a Comic Outline

More ComicLife Examples ComicLife in Education

Benefits of ComicLife

• Engaging and easy to use• Uses multiple skill levels as students

organize, analyze and synthesize information

• Multiple intelligences used as students create, act, and think through the comic

• Relate material to meaningful contexts

• Appealing as students add their own creativity

Summarized from: Tech Module – Using ComicLife in the Classroom

Tips and Tricks

• Review tutorials– give students time to explore – provide demonstration

• Be clear on purpose and goal of the assignment

Tips and Tricks

• Plan the process– Brainstorm ideas– Plan pictures, sketch plan (planning

templates)– Create final product

• Drafts will be required to ensure a polished final product – include all elements in the planning including pictures and texts.

Images for ComicLife

• Image Options can include:– Online photographs

(WARNING:copyright)– Real life images of students

(WARNING: do not post these products to the internet without parental permission)

Images for ComicLife

• Image Options can include:– Toys/Animations (WARNING: Can be time consuming)– Stills from Videos(WARNING: Copyright)

• Sourcing Images:– This link provides lots of information about

sourcing images for your comics.