education
Cool things to bookmark: Reading With Pictures
Classic Comics
Reading With Pictures is a new nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the use of comics in the classroom to aid in literacy and the visual arts:
Educators have begun to see the value of having graphic novels in the classroom — they just don’t know which books to use or how to best use them. To address those needs, Reading With Pictures plans to work with academics, educators, and publishers to provide schools with the best possible teaching methods and classroom materials in order to successfully integrate comics and graphic novels into their curriculum.
Among their goals are to create a database of lesson plans, provide consultation and launch a speakers’ bureau. It’s a project First Second’s Calista Brill finds worthy of merit:
There’s nothing fundamentally different about teaching comics literacy to kids than teaching them the basics of poetry, art, music, math, science, reading – even running. When we educate children, we are giving them the tools to educate themselves. To find the things they love. To experience the world more fully.
And as long as there are people making amazing comics in the world, anyone who lacks the basic tools to read them is missing out. Big time.
Brill puts it a lot better than I could have. If you have time or money available, consider donating to this worthy organization.
- October 15, 2009 @ 10:45 AM by Chris Mautner
Comics A.M. | The comics Internet in two minutes
Marvel
Legal | New York City-based law firm Levi & Korsinsky on Friday filed a class-action lawsuit challenging Disney’s $4-billion purchase of Marvel Entertainment. Like the earlier lawsuit filed by Marvel shareholder Christine Vlatos, this one claims the proposed transaction undervalues Marvel’s stock. [press release]
Business | DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson continues her interview tour, assuring retailer-oriented website ICv2.com “we’re going to be looking for a real publisher” to succeed Paul Levitz as head of DC Comics: “This is not about replacing someone with a cyborg unit that will answer to me. We want a publishing expert.”
At MTV’s movie-focused Splash Page, Nelson highlights DC’s Vertigo imprint as “an area of great interest” that “could potentially offer amazing stories for our future television video game, digital and consumer products businesses.” [ICV2.com, Splash Page]
- September 14, 2009 @ 07:53 AM by Kevin Melrose
Straight for the art: Lasky’s flu comic
No Ordinary Flu
In a remarkable bit of timing considering this week’s headlines, the Seattle and King County is offering a 12-page comic on flu pandemics created by David Lasky.
- April 28, 2009 @ 08:35 AM by Chris Mautner
‘Written in Bone’
Image from 'The Secret in the Cellar'
The Smithsonian has a Webcomic up to tie in with their new exhibit about a skeleton found in southern Maryland titled The Secret in the Cellar:
The Secret in the Cellar, is a Webcomic based on an authentic forensic case of a recently discovered 17th Century body. Using graphics, photos, and online activities, the Webcomic unravels a mystery of historica, and scientific importance. Online sleuths can analyze artifacts and examine the skeleton for the tell-tale forensic clues that bring the deceased to life and establish the cause of death.
Printable .pdfs of the comic and accompanying materials are available at the site as well. (via Mike Rhode)
- April 1, 2009 @ 11:30 AM by Chris Mautner
Hey kids, make comics!
Center for Cartoon Studies workshops
The Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont, is offering a series of cartooning workshops for ages 16 and up:
Summer is a great time for cartooning adventures! Brush up on some skills, learn new ones, or discover the world of cartooning for the first time ever. This summer we’re offering a new line up of options for ages 16+, including a college level workshop, Cartooning Studio, the short version of a keystone course in CCS’s curriculum, taught by CCS faculty, and special Extended Studio options for those with projects that need a little extra time.
Professors for the courses include Stephen Bissette, Robyn Chapman, Jon Chad and Alec Longstreth.
- March 27, 2009 @ 11:15 AM by Chris Mautner