Wow. Making comics is fun! I think the ability to use Comic life, or other applications similar to it, is incredible. As a future English teacher, I feel that I could adopt this technology into any book or novel the class was reading. It could be a final project to take a theme from the novel and create a story that also incorporates that theme and shows how it plays out in the novel. I found the making of these comics to be very enjoyable! If using this type of project in the classroom students would be thinking at deeper levels. In order to get your comic to appeal to the write audience, and have the dialogue and storyline reflect themes of a novel, the students would have to be applying what they have learned in class to the creation of a comic.
The application of this project goes further than just asking students to write a paper as a final project. Creating a comic forces students to think about the visual aspects of their presentation as well. The message that they would try to get across in a paper now also has to be transmitted through visual channels. Using this technology is another way to ensure the students’ comprehension because in order for them to create the comic, their visual aspects of the comic must align with the text. This project also allows students to express their creativity, which can be a motivator for most students. I’m really glad I’m getting all these ideas before I begin teaching!
Megan,
ReplyDeleteI had a lot of fun making a comic as well. However, it was a bit of a challenge because I am a very verbal person and rely on words. With making a comic, I had to shift away from the verbal and focus more on the visual.
I think students would love working with Comic Life or a similar program. They could demonstrate understanding of a novel's themes or a certain scene through their own unique adaptation or representation. Who wouldn't have fun with that?!