Animations+and+Comics

= = =Why utilize animations and comics in Vocabulary Instruction?=
 * The usage of animations and comics increases student engagement.
 * The creation of animation and comics appeal to kinesthetic, visual/spatial, and artistic learning styles.
 * The creation of animations and comics requires higher order thinking to utilize new vocabulary words precisely and effectively.
 * Animations and comics can be utilized to increase student retention of new vocabulary. Dr. Megan Salemi's research indicates that instruction encouraging creative usage of vocabulary facilitates retention of new vocabulary as well as increasing creativity in students.

=Resources:= >>>> For example, if your vocabulary list includes the word vertical, you might list these possibilities: >>>> A geometry teacher teaches about vertical lines. >>>> A mountain climber climbs vertical slopes. >>>> Someone who sleepwalks does not want to be vertical. >>>> A tree stays vertical almost all of the time.
 * [|Toondoo]
 * Toondoo is a free and very easy to use site for the creation of comics.
 * Create a teacher account and allow all students to utilize the site under your log-in. We have only 4 computers going at any one time in our classes and this has worked well. I am not sure if there is a limit to how many can be logged in at a time. I have not had issues with inappropriate material, but be aware that this is a public site and this could be a problem. I log-in for my students to my page which limits that issue.
 * New ToondooSpaces for educational use. Free 15 day trial being offered now. Cost about $1 per student.
 * Lesson Ideas
 * Variety of Possibilities Lesson Plan --
 * Based on Dr. Megan Salemi's work to develop creativity while teaching core curriculum.
 * Have students look at your list of vocabulary words. Give students the following instructions: For each word, try to think of the different people that might use that word. Creative thinking involves looking at something from a variety of points of view. This is called //flexibility//.
 * Log-in to Toondoo. Choose a template with at least three sections.
 * Use the drag and drop interface to create comic strips using vocabulary words as different people might use them.
 * Examples

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In this example, I utilized the word vertical as a construction worker, a mountain climber, and a lumberjack might utilize it.

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In this example, the student utilized the word brilliant to mean a bright light, an extremely smart person and sarcastically.


 * Attribute Listing --
 * Give students the following directions: Look at your list of vocabulary words. For each word, try to think of the different ways to use that word in a sentence. (Adjective, noun, verb, etc.) Creative thinking involves looking at something from a variety of points of view. This is called //flexibility//.
 * Ask students to create a Toondoo using the root word in a variety of ways. For example, the root word luminous could be used in the first frame as an adjective. Change to illuminate, a verb, in another frame, and change it to illumination to use it as a noun in another frame.

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>>> >>> For example, if you vocabulary list includes crevice, harsh, vertical, and makeshift, you might respond to the problem statement in some of these ways:
 * Animations
 * Extranormal
 * first is free, pay for components later
 * public site -- beware of inappropriate content
 * Domoanimate
 * Educational site
 * Free
 * Generating Ideas -- Using New Words Creatively
 * Based on Dr. Megan Salemi's research developing creativity to help students retain information.
 * Look at your list of vocabulary words. Think about this problem statement: “List as many, varied, and unusual ideas for things to do on a hot summer day.” Use your list of vocabulary words to help you generate ideas.
 * I could dig a crevice to hide from the bright sun.
 * Since the hot summer is so harsh, I would create a makeshift tent as a shade.
 * I would jump as high vertically as I could and try to reach the North Pole.
 * Students then utilize their ideas to create animations. This is a first attempt using Extranormal.

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 * Special subject vocabulary also works well with cartoon animations. Students can create news reports with special vocab.

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