In July I taught a class to students grades 3-6 called "Comic Creation." This was a four day class that met for two and half hours per day. I started the class teaching students the main parts of a comic book, such as frames, the gutter and sound effects. Students were able to create their own comics using several different mediums. The first day they hand wrote and drew a comic of their creation using an already made template. Then they used Microsoft Word to build frames, add text, images and speech bubble. Lastly, we used the IPAD app called "Strip Designer" to create comics using student taken photographs and the tool bar feature on "Strip Desinger."
In Microsoft Word students learned about using toolbar features including inserting a text box, copy and pasting images, inserting shapes and then how to format the page.
The app "Strip Designer"by Vivid Apps costs $2.99 through the App Store. My students found it to be very user friendly. The app allows students to create templates, take photos, add text, draw details, add color, speech bubbles as well as adding text, color and page effects. After introducing the app to students, they were each allowed time to play and explore the features of the app. Then students worked with partners to create a comic that had to incorporate actual pictures that they took using the IPADs.
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Students were able to be creative and work together. They had a great time using the app and Microsoft Word to create their own comics. Students loved sharing their creations with others and would leave each day buzzing about what they were going to create the next day. I am excited to figure out ways to incorporate comic creation into the school year curriculum and would definitely recommend it to others. The only snag we had was how to get the images off of the IPADs. Our IPADs are not one-to-one devices, but shared among the whole school. We uploaded images to Dropbox for access and sharing later by creating a library account in Dropbox.
On the last day I had a student say he couldn't wait to take the class again next summer. I'd say that's a good sign of a successful class!
