A free online device that can be used for digital storytelling/cyberbullying. Children and teens create comic strips online by choosing backgrounds, characters, and props. They can also write dialogue using speech bubbles. There is a Comic Strip Planning Sheet, a printable PDF that comic creators can use to draft and revise their work before creating and printing their final comics. When the comics are completed, they can be printed out and shared. The sample comic strip shows a three-pane comic.
Web-based Comics. BitStrips for Schools places it on a private virtual network where teachers can moderate content and review all characters and comics. Students can flag inappropriate comments or bullying, which is then instantly removed pending teacher review. There is a nominal fee of $9.95 per month for up to 40 students.
Illustrated stories are a powerful form of popular expression. Formats such as the single cartoon, panel strip, comic book, graphic novel, and illustrated book have been widely used in our culture to communicate and express ideas in dramatic ways.
New Jersey Legal, a firm specializing in computer forensics, (eDiscovery, litigation support and trial service), also provides custom court room exhibits and multimedia presentations. They run a weekly comic series on their web site called CAPTAIN FORENSICS - with comics that are all related to computer crimes. This is part one of a 4-part series on Cyberbullying. Click next for the rest of the episodes.
Teacher/student examples of Comic Life usage for cyberbullying awareness.
This is a short presentation providing ideas on how to teach digital citizenship, with a focus on cyberbullying awareness. Many of the links are from the UK, but it does provide some ideas for using COMIC LIFE with students to address cyberbullying. Some great student examples are provided.
Includes some ideas for using Comic Life to teach Digital Citizenship.
<b>Five Steps to Combat Cyberbullying.</b> Bullying is a problem at every level of education. Every school has its own way to address the problem, but are these techniques effective? Do they ever make a deep impression on the students? Does the bullying ever go away? Not Likely.
My school is no different from any other; we have implemented programs to combat bullying, but the bullying persists. Then, after experimenting with some new software, I got the idea to make bullying awareness important and exciting for my third-and fourth-grade students by having them create comic strips using Comic Life, one of the new programs available for Macs. With the aid of ready-made templates, word bubbles, pictures, etc. its users easily create a comic strip.
Can be used with students to address cybersafety/cyberbullying topics.
Tutorial for using Comic Life. Can be used with students to address cybersafety/cyberbullying issues.
Technology not only changes how we write, but it also changes what writing is. Education will need to re-evaluate which writing skills teachers should pass to their students. Digital graphic writing is one genre students need to be fluent. Comic Life is the "word processor" of digital graphic writing.
Two 45-minute lesson plans that address the issue of cyberbullying, teach safety tips for tackling it, and encourage children to support each other and behave responsibly online.