NOTE: You may use any comic creation software of your choice. Resources are provided for Comic Life because it is available for both Mac and Windows and a free 30-day trail is available, but you are not limited to using this software.
What is it?
"Comic Life lets you create astounding comics, beautiful picture albums, how-tos... and more!" 1
"The easy-to-use interface integrates seamlessly with your photo collection. Drag in your pictures, captions, Lettering text (‘ka-blam!') and speech balloons and your work is done!"1
"You can even use your webcam within Comic Life to make a comic on the spot! "1
Samples of using Comic Life in education
An English example and a history example can be found on this blog by a teacher in Virginia.
Macinstruct is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching people how to use their Macs. Here is a page that not only tells how to use it, but why to use it in the classroom. It includes a long list of topics that can be presented well in comic format that otherwise might be rather dull to students.
A K-12 district in Illinois has a page of resources about using Comic Life in the classroom, including links to articles to explain why and how to use comics in the classroom, project examples, ideas, manuals, and tutorials. (Note: there are some dead links on this page but also some valuable links.)
A district in Escondido, CA has a page of resources about using Comic Life in the classroom including project samples, lesson ideas, and learning resources.
How do I use it?
Since 1999, Macinstruct has provided free tutorials. Here is a page that tells how to use it in addition to why to use it in the classroom.
Don't forget the resources in the prior section that include tutorials and manuals.
Additional tools and resources
Plasq has a troubleshooting guide . . . a list of questions and answers that cover some of the basic issues that might come up.
Though many clipart sites have annoying pop-ups and make you click through layers and layers to get to the art, there are a few that do not. If you find additional ones besides the ones listed on my del.icio.us site, please email me so I can add them to the list.
References
1. quote from the creators of Comic Life on their website, retrieved October 28, 2007 from http://plasq.com