This is a visual program for making comics, available for Windows, Mac and iPad. It has a 30 day free trial.
One project I witnessed with this software allowed students to share information about where they immigrated from. Students not only shared about their country, but had to research about it and then describe it in basic English in their comic. Many students were very proud when these comic style reports went up on the bulletin board.
It also gave them computer literacy confidence because the program is very easy to start using; and some of the students being refugees, this was very important.
Also, this program was utilized across the school for a variety of projects, not just in the ESL program.
In my current school setting in Thailand, I feel this could be utilized more for actual storytelling as opposed to a 'where you are from' project. As my school is currently delayed due to the floods, this could be an excellent resource for having my students tell the story of how they dealt with the floods which are currently affecting many of them. I feel it could be therapeutic for them to get the story of what happened to their homes out, but I do not yet know how many of my students are affected or to what degree, just that many of them are.
School is tentatively scheduled to begin November 14 instead of November 1, but the flood situation is far from resolved and my area could be affected further. Drinking water and dry goods are scarce. I've taken a week in Malaysia to get some distance from it.
Below is an example of the 'where you come from' assignment in ComicLife.
Also shared here.
Jennifer, I hope you're staying safe and dry there in Thailand! I'm a big fan of Comic Life, too, I just wish there was a free version so I could actually use it with my students. I love web tools that actually allow students to create, and not just consume!
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