E-comics in teaching: Evaluating and using comic strip creator tools for educational purposes

In this paper we research the suitability of comic strip creator tools for developing teaching material. A list of criteria is formed based on the findings of previous research and on the characteristics of comics which have been used effectively in teaching in past works. The results of the evaluation of a number of comic strip creator tools are presented and two cases of developing e-comics with the use of these tools are discussed. The main finding, is that despite some limitations, the tools can be successfully utilized to create alternative and more appealing representations of the teaching materials from teachers with no specialized knowledge on painting or comic designing.