Pixton Comics – A Platform for Creative & Collaborative Storytelling

Introduction:

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, finding innovative ways to engage students and foster creativity is paramount. One such avenue that has captured the imagination of both students and teachers alike is Pixton.com, an online platform that allows users to create vibrant and personalized comics. This article explores the myriad ways Pixton can be a game-changer in the classroom, connecting students through the art of storytelling.

Pixton in the Classroom:

Pixton.com offers a unique and interactive space for students and teachers to delve into the world of comics. For $144 per year or $25 per month, educators can sign up and provide an unlimited number of students with a creative outlet to express themselves through storytelling. The platform enables students to design their own characters and utilize classmates as characters in their narratives, fostering collaboration and a sense of community within the classroom.

Personal Experience:

As a testament to the platform’s versatility, I recently opted for the monthly subscription at $9.99 to create a Pixton comic that delves into the questions of who I am, where I come from, where I am going, and why I am here. This exercise allowed me to explore and share my perspectives as a teacher and served as an example of the powerful storytelling potential Pixton offers.

Discovery at Prairie Valley School Division:

My introduction to Pixton occurred during my tenure as a Student Services Teacher with Prairie Valley School Division’s Remote Learning option. Grade 5-6-7 Alana Yarnton’s teacher used Pixton with her class, providing students with a unique platform to express themselves visually. The students crafted avatars of themselves and wove their narratives into captivating comics. A standout feature was the ability to create a group class photo using their avatars, providing a tangible sense of unity, even in a virtual setting.

Connecting Beyond Boundaries:

Pixton excels in breaking down physical barriers and fostering a sense of connection. Through this platform, students can share their stories, perspectives, and experiences with each other, creating a virtual bond that transcends the limitations of traditional classroom settings. The group class photo feature, as experienced in Prairie Valley, exemplifies how Pixton can bring students together despite being physically apart.

Pixton.com stands out as an invaluable tool for educators seeking to cultivate creativity and collaboration in the classroom. By providing students with the means to express their narratives visually, Pixton fosters a sense of community and connection. With its user-friendly interface and affordable pricing, Pixton opens the door to a world of imaginative possibilities, making it a must-have resource for modern educators committed to inspiring and engaging their students.

Click here to read my full comic.

Learning the Land TEA & NCC Partnership Showcase

It was an awesome experience having spent 2014-2020 coordinating a Learning the Land partnership between Treaty Education Alliance (TEA) and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) that included many different projects and initiatives over that time-span, some of which are featured in the video above.

Background Information on Video:

Back on June 10th of 2020, we released this video to celebrate and showcase some of the projects and initiatives that were developed and delivered in partnership with TEA, NCC and our affiliated schools and first nations, including:
Before shooting this video, each group of students were asked:
  1. What word or symbol would best represent what your group would like to see more of in this world?
  2.  What key land locations around your First Nation best represent who you are and where you come from?
The video reveals the answers to those questions, while set in time and in tune with three songs produced and created by N’we Jinan Artists and the talented youth from Kawacatoose, Cote and Ocean Man first nations, (played in the following order): “MANY PATHS” // Kawacatoose First Nation: https://youtu.be/Qpbw6UvB21U “LOOK AT ME” // Cote First Nation: https://youtu.be/C5FVxXzK8Hs “HUNGER FOR MORE” // Ocean Man First Nation: https://youtu.be/rk9fIVSMVHg
Hope you enjoy it, like, comment, or share!

“We’re Still Here” Integrated Arts Project

This video project was made by students at asiniw-kisik Education Campus as part of an integrated arts program lead by N’We Jinan in 2018/2019.  This video is a powerful reminder of the dark history of residential schools and the resilience shown by First Nations to maintain connections to culture and identity.

For more information on the powerful and inspiring art that was produced as part of this Integrated Arts Program, you can visit: http://rockinthesky.ca

 

Learning the Land TEA & OBC Partnership Showcase

From 2017-2019, I had the opportunity to coordinate another Learning the Land partnerships between Treaty Education Alliance and Outward Bound Canada.

The video below highlights our second trip up to kâniyâsihk Culture Camp run by Outward Bound Instructor Dr. Kevin Lewis.

Throughout the two-year partnership, educators from Treaty Education Alliance affiliated schools had opportunities to attend of series of outdoor camps and training modules. The camps were intended to build greater capacities of teachers to offer strong land-based learning programs to their students.

The following video highlights some of that training and features a few of the awesome educators that were able to take part.

Active Citizenship for Sustainable Communities

Back in the 2012/2013 school year, I was invited by my mother, Dr. Carol Fulton to get involved in a project to document the learning experiences of a group of Grade 8 students at Ecole Massey Elementary School who would be engaged in a series of Active Citizenship projects and around and exploratory theme of sustainability, planned out and facilitated by their teacher, Laurel LaBar-Ahmed.

What came out of it, was a three part video series and resource manual that is intended to help teachers in the planning process of creating and engaging students in some active citizenship projects of their own.

Here is the link to the Active Citizenship for Sustainable Communities Manual along with the three-part video series below:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3: