Pixton is a wonderful website that easily enables students to create online comic strips. Students can use the basic version for free and upgrade to Pixton+ if the site is enjoyable and effective. Students create their own comics in an easy click-through process. They begin by designing a character with options to change hair color, skin color, size, etc. Next they put the character in a background and decide on the number of panels. Finally they use word bubbles to tell their story. The website is simple and will encourage students to create and write their own stories. Students can choose to publish their comic to the community and can view the comics of others, which may warrant adult supervision. Parents or teachers who have reluctant writers may find this is an excellent way to motivate students to write creatively and the characters might provide the inspiration that students need.

• Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
• Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
• Presents educational concepts accurately
• Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
• Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
• Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
• Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)

• Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
• Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
• Visually appealing to children in the target age range
• Provides virtual rewards or incentives after meeting specified goals or objectives
• Provides a "break activity" between academic problem sets
• Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
• Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option

• Has a free or trial version
• Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
• Provides an age-appropriate tutorial/first time users can work independently
• Student should be able to use independently after first use
• Has a multi-player option to foster in-person collaboration or cooperation
• Multiple users can save a profile
• Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
• Can play without sound and not distract others
• Students can save work between sessions
• Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
• Requires registration before using the first time
• Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
• Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
• Overall - Easy to use