Pixton Pals Present- Character

Counts

Lindsay Friedman

Andrea Jacobs

Kristen Swindon

Patricia VanBarg

Educational Objectives/Benefits of

Pixton

Instructional Objective: The learner will think of a situation when they or someone they know encountered bullying and then depict the bullying using Pixton Cartoon creator. Learners will brainstorm a solution to how they could handle the bullying situation properly!

Students will have to use creative thinking and inquiry learning to conceive the idea and will then figure out how to use the technology through problem based learning.

National Educational Technology

Standards NETSUsing Pixton.com to create comics within any

classroom for any assignment meets several of the NETS-T and NETS-S standards

NETS-S (Standards for Students)

1. Creativity and InnovationStudents demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

*Using Pixton.com will allow students to utilize technology to create a product that allows students to create a comic strip using imagination and creativity.

National Educational Technology

StandardsNETS-Continued

NETS-S addressed using Pixton to create any comic strip assignment

NETS-S (Standards for Students)2. Communication and CollaborationStudents use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.

**Students accomplish this standard by communicating their final comic strips to fellow classmates or the teacher to show an understanding of a new concept. Sharing of new concepts with fellow classmates will support the learning of others.

National Educational Technology

StandardsNETS-S Continued

The Pixton Pals team decided to create a lesson using Pixton that focused on Character Counts anti-bullying. Within this specific Pixton Lesson plan, several NETS-S are addressed.

NETS-S (Standards for Students)The previously mentioned standards are addressed plus additional standards

4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving,and Decision MakingStudents use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.

** Students will accomplish this standard by using critical thinking skills to plan a comic strip that will promote anti-bullying. Students will also have to problem solve or troubleshoot any technology problems that might arise during the creation of the comic strip.

National Educational Technology

Standards NETS-TUsing Pixton in any content area

classroom will address several standards for teachers

NETS-T (Standards for Teachers)1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments.

**When teachers create lesson plans that involve students creating Pixton comics, the teachers are encouraging student learning while focusing on creating in a virtual environment.

National Educational Technology

StandardsNETS-T Continued

NETS-T (Standards for Teachers)

1. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS·S.

**Teachers will accomplish this task by desiging an implementing Pixton.com into a lesson plan which is a contemporary tool to help maximize content learning.

Ideas for Use in the Classroom1. Pixton-Web 2.0 Toolshttps://wiki.itap.purdue.edu/display/INSITE/PixtonThis site contains information about Pixton and also elementary and

secondary lesson plans complete with standards.

2. 12th grade world lit class Lesson LINKMy 12th grade World Literature class recently completed a brief graphic story-

telling assignment using Pixton software.

3. Teaching English Lesson Link Reading and Responding to Catcher in the Rye

4. Teaching Environmental Issues Lesson Link Students learn to save energy!

5.MATH Lesson Link Students will use the Pixton Comic Creator to create comic strips about how to solve for a given percent word problem.

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More Ideas for the Classroom

Clemson University used Pixton in several collegiate level classes. Click HERE to view the various ways they incorporated Pixton.com

**They also provide their own lists of pros and cons!

Video Tutorial

This video shows the basics of Pixton.

Video Tutorial

Pixton also has a page dedicated to video tutorials. Access these videos by going to the "for fun" homepage and then clicking help. A drop down menu appears and through personal selection the user learns from one of the creators of the site. Here is a screenshot of what the tutorial looks like.

The individualized videos offer directions from basic to advanced use of the site.

Video - Interview

1. Using Pixton Comics as Learning Video

Video-Writing tool 2. Pixton for Schools - 21st Century Visual Writing Tool

Video - Student account Take a look at a student account. You can see the many assignments from different classes with rubrics posted!

Pros *Free Pixton for Fun* Student use Inquiry based learning and problem solving to figure out how to use Pixton.* Students enjoy the creativity of using project based learning!*Students display ownership of work* There is an emotional approach to the program.* The program is easy to use K-12 across the curriculum.* Students can share comics on blogs and can comment on each others work.* Great assessment tool to evaluate students understanding.* Allows for differentiated instruction *Allows visual learners an opportunity to use their skills to fully comprehend new material

Cons

* Teacher can not monitor student work through basic Pixton* Education Pixton needs a paid subscription* The program quits frequently and is not saved.* The free Pixton has limited scenes and characters are limited.*Access to computer labs is a must to use this tool*Students might not have access to computers.* Not all students will catch on to how to use the site easily. LEARNING CURVE!Students might focus too much on comic and lose site of the objective.

Lindsay Friedman

Pixton comics can be used to address various learning techniques, styles, and standards. In particular, Pixton comics allows both the teacher and the students to use inquiry/problem-based learning.

1. A teacher can give an assignment to research almost anything. This research can be content based (WWII in social studies, Global Warming in science, a specific character in a novel for English). The research can also be about character building like the lesson created from the Pixton Pals group.

**In a research assignment where the end result is sharing information through a Pixton comic, students will have to inquire about information pertaining to their given topic. Also, the students will have to problem solve or troubleshoot any technological issues that may arise.

Lindsay Friedman

Inquiry/Problem-Based Learning Continued

2. Pixton comics can be used in a speech class or English class when assigning a persuasive writing/speech lesson plan.

**Some students are able to express themselves better through visuals rather than writing. Instead of having students write a persuasive speech or paper, students can use Pixton to communicate the same information in a visual manner. This would allow students to inquire about the topic of persuasion and provide solutions to the argument at hand.

Lindsay Friedman

Inquiry/Problem-Based Learning

3. Pixton isn't just for the classroom. Student groups such as student council or student government can use Pixton to voice students' opinions about various topics such as dress code

**Students would be able to come up with a problem (eg students do not want to have a dress code) and come up with possible solutions. The problem and solution then could be transferred to a comic to communicate the problem and solution in a quick and effective way.

Lindsay Friedman

Andrea Jacobs

Finished Pixton- Character Education

Andrea Jacobs

1. Pixton could be used for Problem Based Learning in many ways. The teacher could give the students a problem or challenge and ask students to make a comic to solve this problem. Students could work with a partner, research the topic and come up with a solution to that problem. They could then each create a Pixton that would solve this problem. This would be shared with others in the class. This method incorporates many strategies in PBL.

2. This web 2.0 source is free for the basic Pixton which is a pro. There is a education Pixton that does cost money, but allows better monitoring of use. It would be hard to track what students are doing with the basic one. I also thought it was hard to navigate and manipulate certain parts of the comic. I think it would be too hard for the early grades, but would work in the secondary setting. I think that students would enjoy use, but would be very time consuming.

Kristen Swindon

The Pixton Pals say "Character Counts"!

Kristen Swindon

For a technology based assessment, Pixton.com is a great tool. Students are not only able to problem solve to address the questions posed by the assignment, they can also learn how to use the program to further their knowledge of technology. I recently finished reading The Metamorphosis with my classes and if I were to use Pixton as a form of assessment I would have students create the main character as they see him before and after his "metamorphosis" or transformation in the novella. Another use for the comic strip is to have students create a graphic novella of the story. Use of this web 2.0 technology potentially addresses all of the NETS-S standards and is a great way for self expression of students who are or are not artists.

Patricia VanBarg

Finished Pixton and Ideas and thoughts how the tool could be used for inquiry/problem-based learning

Patricia VanBarg

Pixton would be a great technology tool to use for problem solving in just about any curricular area at any age! Students could be given a problem to research and apply problem solving skills. Then they could illustrate their solutions in a comic format. I think students would find Pixton a fun and motivating Web 2.0 technology. It is free, but if you want more tools and options, you can upgrade for a small fee.

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