Peer Review

Pixton For Schools

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Reviewed:: Jun 28, 2011 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

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Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: Pixon For Schools is Web 2.0 application that facilitates creation of animated comic strips to depict specific situations and actions. It supports use in schools by providing teachers with control of access by students in the classroom or from their homes and providing teachers with editing capacity to assure content is acceptable. Pixton introduces the world to Click-n-Drag Comics™, a revolutionary new patent-pending technology that gives anyone the power to create amazing comics on the web. From fully posable characters to dynamic panels, props, and speech bubbles, every aspect of a comic can be controlled in an intuitive click-n-drag motion.
Type of Material:: Animation
Recommended Uses:: Use as an activity to support problem-based learning and problem-solving strategies by acting out potential solutions to problems and the intended and unintended consequences of those solutions. The site can be used in-class, for homework, by individuals and teams.
Technical Requirements:: Broadband Internet access and ability to drag and drop objects on a screen.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Provide additional formats for students to work in problem-based learning Support the understanding of the effectiveness of using cartoons to address social issues Create and manipulate animated cartoon strips with audio voice support Provide students with the ability to express themselves and content in a comic-based format Allows students to express an idea in a logical sequence
Target Student Population:: Upper elementary, middle school, high school and college students
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: No pre-requisites other than basic computer operation are necessary. The application works on Mac, Windows & Linux systems with compatible modern browsers. Familiarity with course or subject matter is necessary.

Content Quality

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Strengths:: Teachers have multiple ways of monitoring student work and keeping them focused on problem analysis. Teachers can import their class lists, can send group messages to students, assure that each student has a controlled password to access the program and can review, comment on and return draft cartoons for editing of design or content. With teacher guidance, this appears to be a strong tool for teaching problem/solution analysis and evaluation through actions of cartoon characters. The tool can be customized to suit different grade levels and content areas. Students can showcase their creativity in a variety of ways.
Concerns:: An assignment would need to be structured to give students an “instructional” starting point.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: Use of the tool can support standards based instruction, and rubrics can easily be incorporated into the instruction to assess student work and student understanding of targeted concepts and skills. Finished products can be downloaded in multiple formats and embedded in other websites. Cartoons can be presented on classroom interactive whiteboads for class viewing and critiquing. The site provides "How To" videos that take users through the various stages of the design process for creating comic strips. Students can work individually or collaboratively on a comic to display content--as a visual assessment.
Concerns:: The prerequisite knowledge may be difficult for student users, particularly those that are not familiar with comics (ESL population); there is a cost factor for the Pixton for Schools version, but the main site is free.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:: Pixton provides innovative approaches to engage students in problem-based learning and to allow expression of individuality while applying common standards to the content and delivery of the messages. It is an innovative way to collaborate with students, colleagues, etc. and share knowledge that has been acquired. A scoring rubric or star rating scale is included for evaluative measures.
Concerns:: Pixton is not a free resource. While the cost for a 2 month subscription for 60 students is not overwhelming (about $.80 per student), these costs do add up over the school year and may prohibit some schools from considering their use.

Other Issues and Comments:: While student activity in Pixton is controlled and teachers are provided with tools to monitor student activity, creations and attendance, that monitoring still needs to be done regularly. Students can post questionable content if teachers do not monitor and use their teaching skills to encourage socially conscious content delivery.
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