An important outcome in ELA is other forms of representation. Visual representation is another way to communicate and express ideas.

Students should be encouraged to respond to different texts in ways other than writing. Students should be encouraged to respond to different texts in ways other than writing. Technology in your language arts curriculum is one engaging way for students to respond. Technology in your language arts curriculum is one engaging way for students to respond. Personal Beliefs

Comic Life and Curriculum Outcomes: Using Comic Life as a technological tool to engage students to communicate and respond is one means to achieve the essential outcome of: Using Comic Life as a technological tool to engage students to communicate and respond is one means to achieve the essential outcome of: Writing and other ways of representing Writing and other ways of representing

Students will be expected to use writing and other ways of representing to explore, clarify, and reflect on their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and learning; and to use their imagination.

Other outcomes addressed: Other outcomes addressed: SCO 8.1- use a range of strategies in writing and other ways of representing: SCO 8.1- use a range of strategies in writing and other ways of representing: *to extend ideas and experiences *to extend ideas and experiences *explore and reflect on their feelings, values, and attitudes *explore and reflect on their feelings, values, and attitudes *consider others’ perspectives *consider others’ perspectives *reflect on their growth as language learners and language users *reflect on their growth as language learners and language users

SCO 8.3- make informed choices of language to create a range of interesting effects in imaginative writing and other ways of representing SCO 8.3- make informed choices of language to create a range of interesting effects in imaginative writing and other ways of representing GCO 4: reads with understanding a variety of texts GCO 4: reads with understanding a variety of texts (4.8) reflects on own reading and viewing processes and strategies in order to develop ability (4.8) reflects on own reading and viewing processes and strategies in order to develop ability

GCO 9: creates a wide range of texts GCO 9: creates a wide range of texts (9.1) continues to use a variety of writing forms as well as other art forms such as visual arts, music, and drama (9.1) continues to use a variety of writing forms as well as other art forms such as visual arts, music, and drama (9.2) considers and crafts writing (content, word choice, style, tone of voice, form, structure, organization) to suit the audience and the purpose (9.2) considers and crafts writing (content, word choice, style, tone of voice, form, structure, organization) to suit the audience and the purpose (9.3) understands that ideas can be represented in more than one way and experiments with many forms (9.3) understands that ideas can be represented in more than one way and experiments with many forms

GCO 10: creates texts that are clear and accurate GCO 10: creates texts that are clear and accurate (10.3) uses various technologies for the purposes of communicating (10.3) uses various technologies for the purposes of communicating (10.5) collects and combines information from several sources (10.5) collects and combines information from several sources

What is Comic Life? Comic Life is an application for creating not just comics (obviously), but also images, photo albums, greeting cards, scrap books, story books, and instruction guides and brochures. Comic Life is an application for creating not just comics (obviously), but also images, photo albums, greeting cards, scrap books, story books, and instruction guides and brochures. Comic Life Comic Life In the classroom, it is an excellent tool for creating reports of almost any kind. In the classroom, it is an excellent tool for creating reports of almost any kind. Comic Life allows you to create page layouts with boxes for images and text. Comic Life allows you to create page layouts with boxes for images and text.

Styles can be applied to create just about any type of ‘feel’ for your document. Styles can be applied to create just about any type of ‘feel’ for your document. Captions can be created with tails in order to have thought balloons, speech boxes or just additional annotations. Captions can be created with tails in order to have thought balloons, speech boxes or just additional annotations. Filters are available to turn your digital images into a variety of hand drawn looking graphics to enhance the comic appearance of your work. Filters are available to turn your digital images into a variety of hand drawn looking graphics to enhance the comic appearance of your work.

The Comic Life Set Up The main window is divided into four major panes. The main window is divided into four major panes.

The left pane shows your pages and allows you to manage them by adding, removing or re-arranging them. The left pane shows your pages and allows you to manage them by adding, removing or re-arranging them.

The right side of the window has libraries and settings for page layouts and templates, and also an interface to browse your iPhoto library, albums, and any folder on your hard drive or mounted disks. Use the built-in image capture system in conjunction with a connected/built-in camera

The bottom section of the window has a collection of text containers to create annotations, speech and thought bubbles in a variety of styles.

The filters you apply to the text elements allow you to create eye-popping effects.

How to Create a Comic in Comic Life Creating a comic with Comic Life is a simple 5- step process. Select a template for your new page. There are over 200 templates in categories such as comics from the 40’s, 60’s and 80’s, manga, graphic novels, and euro comics. Or, you can create your own layout by dragging panels anywhere you want them. Select a template for your new page. There are over 200 templates in categories such as comics from the 40’s, 60’s and 80’s, manga, graphic novels, and euro comics. Or, you can create your own layout by dragging panels anywhere you want them. Step 1

Play video stream tutorial at

Step 2 Add digital images from iPhoto, other disks or a connected digital camera. You can drag and drop images from the interface of Comic Life (from your iPhoto library or any connected disk), or you can drag items directly from the Finder into Comic Life. If you’d like to capture images directly from a camcorder or camera, such as an iSight, you can use the capture feature of Comic Life and create your comic with images you grab on the fly. Add digital images from iPhoto, other disks or a connected digital camera. You can drag and drop images from the interface of Comic Life (from your iPhoto library or any connected disk), or you can drag items directly from the Finder into Comic Life. If you’d like to capture images directly from a camcorder or camera, such as an iSight, you can use the capture feature of Comic Life and create your comic with images you grab on the fly. Dragging an image onto a panel will put the image into the panel and crop it so the shortest dimension of the image matches the shortest dimension of the panel. You can adjust the panel size/shape separately from the image’s size. Dragging an image onto a panel will put the image into the panel and crop it so the shortest dimension of the image matches the shortest dimension of the panel. You can adjust the panel size/shape separately from the image’s size. Play video stream tutorial at

Step 3 Select a style/filter for digital images. You can leave your images in their unfiltered state, but Comic Life's built-in filters and styles give you some very cool control over how 'comicy' your comic looks. If you don’t like the pre-defined styles, you can enter your own filter settings to get that perfect look. Select a style/filter for digital images. You can leave your images in their unfiltered state, but Comic Life's built-in filters and styles give you some very cool control over how 'comicy' your comic looks. If you don’t like the pre-defined styles, you can enter your own filter settings to get that perfect look. Don’t overlook the fact that you can draw your own images (on the computer, or on paper and scan them in) and then include them in your comic once they are in a digital format. Don’t overlook the fact that you can draw your own images (on the computer, or on paper and scan them in) and then include them in your comic once they are in a digital format.

Step 4 Add text containers and text. Just like almost everything else in Comic Life, adding text is a simple drag and drop process. The text containers at the bottom of the window provide you with different text presentations. Add text containers and text. Just like almost everything else in Comic Life, adding text is a simple drag and drop process. The text containers at the bottom of the window provide you with different text presentations. Play video stream tutorial at

Step 5 Save (frequently) and export to your format of choice. Your export decisions will be based on what you intend to do with the comic when you’re done. Comic Life has several export options that allow you to share your work in digital or paper/printed form. The HTML export creates an interface that allows users to ‘flip’ through your comic page-by- page. Exporting to an album in iPhoto lets you build a quality photo album. Save (frequently) and export to your format of choice. Your export decisions will be based on what you intend to do with the comic when you’re done. Comic Life has several export options that allow you to share your work in digital or paper/printed form. The HTML export creates an interface that allows users to ‘flip’ through your comic page-by- page. Exporting to an album in iPhoto lets you build a quality photo album. Play video stream tutorial at

Benefits of this tool The use of visual images to reinforce text. The use of visual images to reinforce text. The opportunity for alternate forms of expression in lieu of traditional writing The opportunity for alternate forms of expression in lieu of traditional writing Differentiates instruction Differentiates instruction Provides different templates to be used as story boards; great graphic organizers for students to help layout content Provides different templates to be used as story boards; great graphic organizers for students to help layout content

The paneled interface of a comic lends itself to breaking larger concepts into smaller, easily digested ideas that can be strung together in a coherent and entertaining way. The paneled interface of a comic lends itself to breaking larger concepts into smaller, easily digested ideas that can be strung together in a coherent and entertaining way. Creating the imagery used in the comic can draw a student into the story or character in a way that a written report simply can’t. Creating the imagery used in the comic can draw a student into the story or character in a way that a written report simply can’t.

Potential pitfalls The accessibility of software and hardware for students in schools or home The accessibility of software and hardware for students in schools or home The opportunity for students to have time to work and explore on their own The opportunity for students to have time to work and explore on their own There are time delays when refreshing or editing images There are time delays when refreshing or editing images Text or speech bubbles limit the amount of speech/dialogue that you can place large enough to visibly see Text or speech bubbles limit the amount of speech/dialogue that you can place large enough to visibly see

Mini Lesson #1: Designing a Personal Narrative with a Comic. Outcome: Outcome: SCO 8.1- use a range of strategies in writing and other ways of representing: *to extend ideas and experiences *explore and reflect on their feelings, values, and attitudes

Mini Lesson #1 Objective/Directions: Use comic life to share a personal narrative (experience) that happened to you over the summer. First, provide a written paragraph of background information of your experience, then become innovative in using text and images to tell your story through Comic Life.

Mini Lesson #1 Example: (Personal narrative) Mini Lesson #1 Example: (Personal narrative) When my family was in China to adopt our youngest daughter, we had some problems with the Citizenship and Immigration Services department (which was no surprise to us). To express our frustration and enduring sense of humor, I created a comic to share with family and friends regarding our most recent difficulty. I’ve included it here as an example of a quick and simple comic used to tell the story. When my family was in China to adopt our youngest daughter, we had some problems with the Citizenship and Immigration Services department (which was no surprise to us). To express our frustration and enduring sense of humor, I created a comic to share with family and friends regarding our most recent difficulty. I’ve included it here as an example of a quick and simple comic used to tell the story.

Mini lesson #2 Story writing: Create a children’s book Outcome: Outcome: (9.2) Students to consider and craft writing (content, word choice, style, tone of voice, form, structure, organization) to suit the audience and the purpose (9.2) Students to consider and craft writing (content, word choice, style, tone of voice, form, structure, organization) to suit the audience and the purpose

Lesson Goal: Lesson Goal: In teaching children’s literature there is often discussion of intended audience, purpose and the use of characters. By using comic life, students can create primarily animal characters if they wish and use images to illustrate the storyboard/template and write a short story.

Resources: Ryan Hainstock, Technology mentor AVRSB Ryan Hainstock, Technology mentor AVRSB Atomic Learning Atomic Learning plasq (the creators of Comic Life) plasq (the creators of Comic Life) Comic Life Education Community Comic Life Education Community American Library Association: Comic books and graphic novels American Library Association: Comic books and graphic novels

National Council of Teachers of English National Council of Teachers of English Comics in the Classroom Comics in the Classroom Comics in Education Comics in Education Education World: Comics in the Classroom world.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev105.shtml Education World: Comics in the Classroom world.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev105.shtml world.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev105.shtml world.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev105.shtml