App review by Amanda Bindel, Common Sense Education | Updated October 2015
Seedling Comic Studio

Seedling Comic Studio

Showcase student work through photo-based comic strips

Learning rating
Editorial review by Common Sense Education
Community rating
Not yet reviewed Write a review
Privacy rating
50%| Warning Expert evaluation by Common Sense
Grades
3–8 This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.
Subjects & Skills
English Language Arts, Arts, Creativity, Communication & Collaboration
Great for
Creating Media
Price:  Free Additional theme packs can be purchased in-app for $.99
Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch
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Take a look inside

5 images
Layout templates include one to six panels.
Choose a background from the included themes.
Take and cut-out a photo to drop into a background.
Use different photo filters to change the effect.
Add speech or thought bubbles.

Pros: Photo editing features add pizzazz to comics.

Cons: There's no way to rename saved comics, which could be an organizational mess.

Bottom Line: Creative options are endless and inspiration abounds -- just do your best to keep your creations organized.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

The possibilities are endless for the kinds of comics kids create -- either using the existing backgrounds, themes, and stickers or getting totally creative and starting from scratch with their own photos. There's a lot of room for customization and creativity as kids alter photos and maneuver elements within the comic strips. Text space is limited, as it always is in comic strips, so kids much think critically to get their message across with images and a few words. Teachers could create their own comic strips to present lessons or ideas to students, or students could create comic strips to publish their writing or as a culminating project for a science or social studies unit or for literature.

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Standards:

Seedling Comic Studio is a creation tool that lets students take and edit pictures and then add words, stickers, and backgrounds to create comic strips. Some backgrounds and stickers are available for free, and others can be purchased in-app. Kids can share their creations via email, SMS, or other social media connected on the device. Besides the app, Seedling sells creative play kits, and kids can connect to the toy store through the app by solving a multiplication problem. Language options include English and Spanish.

Students create the comic strips, using layouts from one panel to six. First, they choose a layout from the template selections, tap the panel to take a photo, add a background, and then embellish with speech bubbles, thought bubbles, or stickers. With the photo editing options, kids can flip pictures, change filters, or cut out the person to drop them into a new background. Designs are saved automatically by date created to the device and can be edited, deleted, or shared.

This creative tool makes it easy for kids to make impressive comic strips featuring their own photos and ideas. Tools run along the top and bottom of the screen, putting all options at kids' fingertips. There are no instructions or tutorials, so students will need to play around with it to figure out all of the creative options. Most impressive are the photo-editing options: Students can use a filter to change photos to sketches, give someone a comic-like bulge, or pixelate their photos. 

Overall Rating
Engagement Would it motivate students and hold their interest? Is it visually appealing? Would it inspire teachers to try something new or change their instruction?

The tools make the creation experience really fun. Kids can use photo effects, add crazy backgrounds, or embellish with stickers.

Pedagogy Does the tool help teachers promote a more student-centered experience? Will students gain conceptual understanding or think critically? Does it deepen teachers’ pedagogical thinking?

Kids can find inspiration from the existing backgrounds and stickers, or they can get creative and make a comic strip totally from their imagination.

Support Can students and teachers get assistance when they need it? Is it created with people of different abilities and backgrounds in mind? Is learning reinforced and extended beyond the digital experience?

No in-app demo or instructions are available, though tools are clearly labeled. Student work is saved automatically by date but file names can't be changed, so that may get confusing with multiple student projects.

Common Sense reviewer
Amanda Bindel Classroom teacher
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Key Standards Supported

Writing

  • W.3.6

    With guidance and support from adults, use technology to produce and publish writing (using keyboarding skills) as well as to interact and collaborate with others.

  • W.4.6

    With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting.

  • W.5.6

    With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting.

  • W.6.6

    Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.

  • W.7.6

    Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others, including linking to and citing sources.

  • W.8.6

    Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.

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Data Safety
How safe is this product?
Unclear whether this product supports interactions between trusted users and/or students.
Unclear whether this product displays personal information publicly.
Unclear whether user-created content is filtered for personal information before being made publicly visible.
Data Rights
What rights do I have to the data?
Users can create or upload content.
Processes to access and review user data are available.
Processes to modify inaccurate data are available.
Ads & Tracking
Are there advertisements or tracking?
Unclear whether data are shared for third-party advertising and/or marketing.
Unclear whether this product displays traditional or contextual advertisements.
Unclear whether this product displays behavioral or targeted advertising.

Continue reading about this tool's privacy practices, including data collection, sharing, and security.

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