Comics in the Classroom

Though an older website (2006), Make Beliefs Comix has the exciting new addition of offering language options, and so I find it a really good resource for language classrooms. Like InkleWriter, MBC allows for creativity in writing, which encourages students through intrinsic motivation. It also uses an online format, which is fun, flexible, and especially good for using art in the classroom with students who can’t necessarily draw or are uncomfortable with their artistic talent. Because it’s comics, it’s exciting and less scary or boring than a traditional writing assignment or essay. However, students still get good language practice. MBC is also a good resource for teachers because comics are a fun way to teach or introduce topics and this helps teachers make them without having to draw it by hand.

Though my focus is language, this website could be used in many subjects. The visual, creative layout may be a good way to introduce topics in history or test student understanding in science. For example, students could be challenged for extra credit to create comics that explain the cell cycle or oversaturated solutions. This blend of language with other subjects will overall help students learn and the ability to creatively reiterate learning shows a mastery of the materiel.

The website is free and comes with a lot of artistic tools for maximum image freedom but all the tools are cutely illustrated themselves, so the site is really easy to manipulate and use. Unfortunately, the graphics of the website itself look a little dated and the overall feel is lacking. It certainly doesn’t have the clean, simplistic aesthetic of Blendspace.

Though there are many comic maker websites available, such as Bitstrip (2007), MBC has a slightly easier learning curve and has more of a traditional cartoon look whereas the figures and art on Bitstrip and other websites is more static and less engaging. Most importantly, MBC links to language keyboards, so foreign language classrooms can use it with ease and don’t stumble with non-English characters or English spell-check. (And another convenient feature for MBC is the lack of log-in necessity.)

Overall, though the physical website isn’t beautiful, MBC is a useful, simple tool for incorporating comics into the learning process and the incorporation of foreign language options allows for increased use in language classrooms.