Using Comics to Teach Chemistry (and more!)

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Science can be difficult for low to average readers. Today, we'll dig into the power of comic books to help us teach difficult subjects to students by making learning reachable and approachable. C.A. Preece works to reach every learner by working to make science approachable and understandable.

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Your Challenge with this Episode

Find a difficult subject and create a comic or find a comic to help make it more approachable. Reflect on what you learn in your learning journal.

C.A. Preece – Bio As Submitted

MY BACKGROUND
I am a high school chemistry teacher and have been for seven beautiful years, now. Using facilitated diffusion, knowledge was beaten into my fertile mind at Morehead State University and the University of Kentucky granting me the power of holding a piece of paper that says: Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry at Morehead State University as well as a Master's of Arts in Teaching. In addition, I have taken 30+ graduate chemistry and education hours from the University of Kentucky in the pursuit of a Ph.D. in S.T.E.M. Education.
Along with teaching and grad school, I write! My first publication was in July 2017 with CheMystery! A graphic novel aimed at providing quality chemistry knowledge through the lens of superheroes. Also, I do science consulting. I have had the pleasure of assisting Frank Barbiere, Greg Rucka and the creators of Doctor Puppet on projects.

MY PASSION
Teaching, science and reading comics! I love comics of all kinds but the ones that truly win my heart are comics with great characters and even greater science. This medium is a great way to communicate many ideas and since science is so graphic, I think it can be a beautiful marriage when done right.
Here are some of my favorite characters:
Marvel- Captain America/Black Bolt
DC- Firestorm
Indy- Dr. Solar

PANELS on Science in Comics
+ Lexington Comic Con 2015 with Bob Hall and Kody Chamberlain
+ D.C.'s Awesome Con 2015 with Duncan Rouleau and Tom King
+ Baltimore Comic Con 2015 with Mark Waid and Ramona Fradon
+ Lexington Comic Con 2016 with Matt Hawkins and Nathan Fox
+ Indiana Comic Con 2016 with Neal Adams
+ Lexington Comic Con 2017
+ Heroes Con 2017 with Josh Reynolds, Shari Brady, and Matt Brady
+ KSTA Conference 2017 on Using Science Comics in the Classroom with Josh Woodward
+ Derby City Comic Con 2017 with Megan Scholar
+ Lexington Comic Con 2018 with Jim Shooter and Erica Schultz
+ ConGlomeration 2018
+ Indy Pop Con 2018

Blog: http://atomicuniverse.org/index.html

Twitter: @AtomicUniverse

Instagram: @Atomic_Universe

Kickstarter: Fire! Salt! Slime! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1547322454/fire-salt-slime

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored podcast episode.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to include a reference to their product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Vicki Davis

Vicki Davis is a full-time classroom teacher and IT Director in Georgia, USA. She is Mom of three, wife of one, and loves talking about the wise, transformational use of technology for teaching and doing good in the world. She hosts the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast which interviews teachers around the world about remarkable classroom practices to inspire and help teachers. Vicki focuses on what unites us -- a quest for truly remarkable life-changing teaching and learning. The goal of her work is to provide actionable, encouraging, relevant ideas for teachers that are grounded in the truth and shared with love. Vicki has been teaching since 2002 and blogging since 2005. Vicki has spoken around the world to inspire and help teachers reach their students. She is passionate about helping every child find purpose, passion, and meaning in life with a lifelong commitment to the joy and responsibility of learning. If you talk to Vicki for very long, she will encourage you to "Relate to Educate" or "innovate like a turtle" or to be "a remarkable teacher." She loves to talk to teachers who love their students and are trying to do their best. Twitter is her favorite place to share and she loves to make homemade sourdough bread and cinnamon rolls and enjoys running half marathons with her sisters. You can usually find her laughing with her students or digging into a book.

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1 comment

Bryan F. December 2, 2019 - 12:13 pm

I really liked the idea of having a comic to teach a subject that is considered difficult. I love comics because there are visuals to help me learn. I believe that having visuals will help the students learn better than just explaining. The comic idea gives students an example of what it should look like on the subject that is being taught.