When creating comics, students critically think about content in a way that is naturally fun! Digital comics can increase that natural value. In this session you will learn about different digital comic makers, creation/reflection processes, and how digital comic creation aligns with the Common Core. Bring your own laptop or digital device if you have one, but it is not necessary. Reading - Writing Summer Conference, ESU - 2014

1. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Beth Rajan Sockman Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Instructional Technology
Michele Herrmann
Elementary Math, Pleasant Valley School District
Writing with
Digital Comics
It’s Serious
Fun!

2. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Abstract
• When creating comics, students critically think
about content in a way that is naturally fun!
Digital comics can increase that natural value.
In this session you will learn about different
digital comic makers, creation/reflection
processes, and how digital comic creation
aligns with the Common Core. Bring your own
laptop or digital device if you have one, but it
is not necessary.

3. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
When you were younger, do you remember
looking for the comics in the Sunday paper?
What was your
favorite comic or
character? WHY?

4. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014

5. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Goals – Take Aways
• Understand HOW digital comics
creation supports learning goals
– PA Common Core, Creativity, Diverse
Learning Needs, Motivation
• Identify classroom writing process
• Recognize the technology options
• Familiarize with digital comic
creators
• Navigate locations to more resources

6. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
COMICS & LEARNING
GOALS
Diverse Learning Needs, Motivation, PA Common Core & Creativity

7. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Motivation

8. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Comic Creation Encourages..
Critical
Thinking
Literacy
Development
Meets Diverse
Student needs!
3 for 1

9. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Comic Pedagogy for
Critical Thinking (Decker, 2007)
 Sustains the question until the learning has a place
of understanding
 Attends to complexity and discourages the search
for the simple
 Embraces a “punch line”, the counter-intuitive
option
Higher Order
Thinking

10. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Why Comic Creation?
Reflect on material and to create
deeper meaning - VISUALLY
Visual
Literacy

11. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Comic Pedagogy
Language Arts
• Writing  builds
Vocabulary
• Write  complicated
narratives
• Practice  Sentence
structure
Builds
Literacy

12. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
PA Common Core
• Grade 6CC.1.4.6.C
Develop and analyze the topic
with relevant facts, definitions,
concrete details, quotations, or
other information and examples;
include graphics and multimedia
when useful to aiding
comprehension.
E06.C.1.2.2
E06.E.1.1.2
See
Handout

13. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Individual Learning Needs

14. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
http://youtu.be/qRhIhYvDhEU
English Language Learners
• Students can create
the image to
communicate. Then
add the English words
to portray their
cartoon.
• Research shows
increase in vocabulary
and correct sentence
structure.

15. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Special Needs Students
Comics can help students
with disabilities:
• Create social stories focusing on
behavior.
• Autistic or deaf students may
use the characters to express
what they want to say.
• Able to express emotions by
drawing the expressions on the
characters faces.

16. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
All Learners
• Motivation – Comics
• Rehearsal/Reteaching – Rewrite
concept learned in a comic
• Extension – Apply a concept
learned to a scenario

17. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Sample Rehearsal-2nd Grader
Explaining
odd and even
numbers
using the
talk balloons

18. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
LET’S TRY A SIMPLE
AVATAR CREATOR:
WILDSELF

19. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014www.buildyourwildself.com
Build your WildSelf with adaptations

20. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Reflection: How could this be
Wildself used?
• Creativity: Create & Make avatars
• Creative Writing: Write a creative story about
yourself
• Mythology: Write a myth about the character
to explain a natural phenomenon
• Science: Explain adaptations and compare to
other species that have those adaptations
• Lesson Plan Link

21. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
DIGITAL COMIC CREATION
Technology & Writing Process

22. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Tips for the Comic Creation
Process
Teacher
Plan
• Content
• Technology
Writing Process
Content
Brainstorm
Plan  Storyboard
Create
SHARE
Revise
Publish

23. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Know Something about the
Technology
By Casey
Unangst on
Bitstrips

24. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Common Comic Creator Options
• Text Balloons
• Props
• Panels
• Characters
• Expressions
• Backgrounds/Scenes
• Options  Account, Sharing, Printing,
Webcam, Download Photos, Captioning, Edit

25. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Expectations
You will learn a
little about the
technology.
The student
will learn a lot!

26. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
By Graduate
Student on
Bitstrips

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COMIC MAKERS
Least complex  More complex

28. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Read-Write_Think
• Easiest
• No account
• Comic creator
• Panel number
choice
• Share: Print only
• Graphic
Organizers
• Lesson Plans
• Community
MakeBeliefsComix
• Easy
• No account
• Comic creator
• Panel number –
3
• Manipulate
Characters
• Share: Print &
email
• Lesson Plans
• GOOD resources
Pixton
• Must create an
account
• More complex
• Panels: Totally
adjustable
• Manipulate
Character etc.
• Share: Print,
Email & Embed
• Lesson Plans
• Good Resources
3 Different Level Comic Makers

29. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Read Write Think
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/reso
urces/interactives/comic/

30. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
In this comic, a third grade
student used captions along
with the talk balloons to write
his story.

31. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Make Beliefs Comix
http://innovations2010unco.pbworks.com/w/page/314326
28/Writing-%20Make%20Beliefs%20Comix
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/#

32. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Make Belief Comix Workspace

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Pixton
http://www.pixton.com/my-home

34. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Pixton Choices

35. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Teacher Resources
• Make Beliefs Comix – See bottom of page
• Read Write Think Community -
http://www.readwritethink.org/
• Pixton - Samples
– http://www.pixton.com/schools/library/
• Planning Sheet -
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_
images/lesson195/comic-strip-planning.pdf
• Live Binder of Comics Creators
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=414
75

36. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Summary Questions
• Why should you consider using comics in the
classroom?
• What do you need to do before using in the
classroom?

37. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014

38. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
The principle goal of education in the
schools should be creating men and
women who are capable of doing new
things, not simply repeating what
other generations have done.
Jean Piaget

39. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
References
bsockman@esu.edu
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40. Between the Lines: Reading & Writing for Contemporary Learners” Conference – Summer 2014
Question or Comments
Beth Rajan Sockman
Instructional Technology
bsockman@esu.edu
570-422-3621