ToonDoo

**ToonDoo.com ** **__Overview: __** ToonDoo is a website that allows users to create comic strips or mini comic books using the elements provided by the site. Users need to set up a free account, select a panel format for the comic strip (up to three panels), choose elements from the provided backgrounds, characters, setting elements, text bubbles, etc., and get to work! The website was designed for kids and as a creative alternative for those who aren't "naturally" good at drawing.
 * To access this site go to [|http://www.toondoo.com]


 * __Features: __**
 * Free user friendly website
 * Students can create their own characters using the TraitR option or choose from the characters provided
 * Students can edit their creations or the provided characters and settings freely with the DoodleR option
 * Students can upload and "goofify, cartoonize or play around with" their own photos or photos from the internet in the ImaginR feature
 * Can be uploaded to a website or wikispace

**__ Strengths: __**
__** Weaknesses: **__ 
 * Extremely user friendly. Very little instructional time would need to be spent familiarizing students with the website.
 * Student creations can be published on a wikispace or other website
 * Fun creative alternative for students who are not naturally gifted in drawing
 * There is no educational version of the website so content should be monitered
 * Can run slowly when a lot of users are online at once
 * Students can not edit the same creation at the same time without "saving over" each others work (just like in wikispaces or Glogster)
 * There is no "friending" feature so teachers can't easily monitor student projects. Students need to be responsible for publishing their final project to a common domain (such as a website or wikispace)

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 * __ Before Using: __**
 * Familiarize yourself with the site
 * Learn how to upload the finalized image to wikispace or whichever website your classroom uses and give your students printed directions or walk them through this process (this seemed to give them the most trouble)

__ **Best Practices:** __
Students can use Toondoo as a final medium for a collaberative project. This could be anything from using the comic strip medium to create satirical cartoons to teaching grammar rules. This really is a format that could be used to help students create what they are struggling with. It is simple enough for students to create on their own or can be made more complex for small group work.
 * 1.** **Collaborative Learning**
 *  For sample student projects click here!