ToonDoo
Below is a comic I created using ToonDoo.
ToonDoo was very easy to use. I was surprised at how many options were available with the free account. There are a wide variety of characters, backgrounds, and additional props available for users to make the comics unique and exciting. Another feature I found beneficial is the ability to go back and edit your comic. This would be a great tool for students' writing. We encourage reflection and revision, so being able to continue making adjustments is extremely valuable. The variety of options for sharing such as directly uploading to social media sites, email, downloading as a png, and embedding the code are greatly beneficial as well.
One downfall I realized after a bit was that some of the options are hidden until you click the play button on the main screen. Additionally, after creating my comic, I struggled to find my way back to the main screen after saving my work. I even struggled locating the save button. I do think the site is student friendly, but this might be something that would be worth guiding the students on initially, or it could be solved by creating a screencast prior to the activity detailing each step.
Pixton
Below is a comic I created using Pixton.
A tutorial pops up when you first start working with this tool. I actually made the mistake of going through the tutorial after getting frustrated while creating my comic. I felt like there weren't very many options, but once I went through the tutorial I saw how many alternatives there were to help amp up the creativity. The user is able to change the facial expressions of the characters and even change their poses. Key word searches are also available for each step which makes this even easier. Older students could use this site independently. Some pre-made templates are available, but many features are not available without upgrading.
I was disappointed that I couldn't download my comic without upgrading my account. The option to upload to social media, use an embed code, or email are available.
Make Beliefs Comix
Below is a comic I created used Make Beliefs Comix about Teacher Brain - it's a real thing, y'all! For this site, you don't need to create an account.
I found myself frustrated with this site. It had far fewer options that the others and was very finicky when it came to moving or resizing anything in the pane. The character and background options were extremely limited causing me to have to change my comic idea several times because I couldn't find anything to fit with what I was envisioning. The only publishing options were to save (by creating an account), print, or email. There were no options to embed or share via social media.
Sharing with Teachers and Colleagues
There are countless ways to share ideas with other educators. Comics are highly engaging for learners of all ages - including teachers! Uploading them into newsletters is a great way to promote their use in the classroom while relaying important information at the same time. Sometimes just seeing an example can spark inspiration for a way to adapt in an individual's classroom. Another fun idea might be to upload a comic regularly to my library website just to share a laugh with students and colleagues. QR codes could be created for the comics and placed around the campus for everyone to access using their own device. I can see offering support for these tools for my fellow educators in helping them learn how to access and create using these tech tools.
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