Comics in the Classroom by Diane Barrie
Posted by dbarrie on May 22, 2010
There are many different forms of digital storytelling, one in particular I’d like to highlight here today. Through the NWP, we have an opportunity to try out a free tool called “Bitstrips.” This might just be the thing to get you through the last few weeks of school! Read the information, below, from Shahan Panth who introduced us to the software. And remember, you don’t have to be an expert in technology to use it in your classroom. You are an expert in writing, in pedagogy, and in learning. The kids will figure out the software easily enough!
Bitstrips for Schools is software that helps improve writing and digital literacy through comics. It’s being used by teachers in a wide range of subjects, with students of all kinds, including ELL and children with autism. You can read the NWP’s great write-up about us here -
http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/3110The site was recently licensed to every public school in Ontario, Canada, and after 7 months it’s already being used by teachers in nearly 4,000 schools, with over 350,000 registered students and nearly 2 million student-made comics! Teachers have been amazed at how our comic-making tools have motivated their students – especially boys – to start writing. Over 40% of activity is happening after school and on weekends.
We’re now making Bitstrips for Schools available for free to NWP educators for the rest of the school year. To learn more about us, please check out the NWP link above or visit our website – www.bitstripsforschools.com.
