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.