Comic Conference for Educators and Librarians

July 22, 2021 3:00 - 4:00 pm PST

 

 

Can students write and illustrate an international graphic novel? The answer is YES! And we did it. Join us as we take you on the journey that began in 2015 as just a conversation - and that SDCC has been an integral part of! With the mentorships of Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett, and support as diverse as Igor Goldkin, Will IAM, Neal Gaiman, Andrew Aydin, and the late Rep. John Lewis, Ayala School, and the International School of Panama in Panama, these teens created a stunning graphic novel! The first volume of an international collaboration is officially launched! Our panel will include the official launch party, the original artists, the writers, and surprise guests! Jasper and the Spirit Skies: Volume 1 is on sale at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

 July 22, 2021 3:00 - 4:00 pm PST

 

 

Peter Carlson (Green Dot Public Schools), Susan Kirtley (Portland State University), and Antero Garcia (Stanford University) talk with comic creators Kelly Sue DeConnick (Bitch Planet) and Matt Fraction (November) in order to connect the dots between comic books and civic action. Connections include ice cream, change theory, fungible memory, curriculum, the Dickenson cash drawer, transformational experiences in school, and what’ve they got going on over there with Good Trouble Comics.

July 22, 2021 3:00 - 4:00 pm PST

 

 

How is STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) used to inspire and create our most beloved popular arts? What do portrayals of science and scientists in popular media get right and wrong? From world-building to special effects and cosplay, IF/THEN ambassadors (www.ifthenshecan.org) Sydney Hamilton (aerospace engineer), Myria Perez (paleontologist), Dr. Samantha Thi Porter (archaeologist), and Dr. Erika Hamden (astrophysicist) are here to discuss the STEM behind the fandom with moderator Xyla Foxlin (mechatronics engineer).

July 22, 2021 4:00 - 5:00 pm PST

 

 

Combining the learning benefits of visualization with the power of storytelling, high-quality graphic novels make both STEM and humanities subjects more accessible and engaging for all students, particularly students who may not see themselves as scientists, engineers, or historians. We'll discuss how the comics medium is perfectly suited to breaking down complex information and making content learning engaging and fun. And with the new emphasis on reading nonfiction, academic vocabulary, and reading in the subject areas, comics are more relevant than ever. Join panelists Matt Brady (high school science teacher, co-founder of theScienceOf.org), Shari Brady (executive director of education and engagement; Kaleideum Science Museum, co-founder of theScienceOf.org), Kristina Maldonado Bad Hand (educator and teaching artist), Isabel Morales, Ed.D (middle school history teacher), C.A. Preece (high school chemistry teacher), Tim Smyth (high school social studies teacher and MS reading specialist), and moderator Tracy Edmunds (VP of K-12 education for Reading With Pictures). https://linktr.ee/tedmunds

July 22, 2021 4:00 - 5:00 pm PST

 

 

Modern, dynamic teaching means thinking outside the textbook. Michael Gianfrancesco (LitX founder and teacher), Shveta Miller (author of Hacking Graphic Novels: 8 Ways to Teach Higher-Level Thinking with Comics and Visual Storytelling), Deborah Benjamin (educator), Ronell Whitaker (English curriculum director), and Dr. Jay Hosler (writer/artist The Way of the Hive) discuss techniques to engage students using the comics medium in a way that will demonstrate practical positive educational results. Visit https://linktr.ee/michaelgteach for links to all participants.

July 22, 2021 4:00 - 5:00 pm PST

 

 

Amie Wright (former inaugural president of the ALA Graphic Novel and Comic Round Table), Angela Ocana (community services manager at the Eugene Public Library), and Deimosa Webber-Bey (director of Information Services and Cultural Insight at Scholastic, Inc.) discuss how graphic novels have proven to be an extraordinarily effective medium for literacy and learning, how they have become increasingly recognized as ‘legitimate’ literature, and how they have impacted the movement for equity, diversity, and inclusion. The three panelists specifically focus on how graphic novels function in libraries and how those serving children and families in libraries can advance the use of graphic novels and comics within their communities.

July 22, 2021 5:00 - 6:00 pm PST

 

 

Tabletop and live-action role-playing games have remarkable capabilities for learning at all ages. Get a sneak peek about three projects from The Game Academy, a 501c3 nonprofit: The Scourge of Shiran, a 5e-compatible educationally-themed science fiction adventure designed and written by professional educators for The World of Alessia; The Realm of Canthea is an in-house fantasy world developed by TGA for any fantasy role-playing game, which challenges tropes and expectations along racial, gender, cultural, and political lines for the purpose of illumination and education, and a preview of The Anywear Academy, a $1.2 million-dollar National Science Foundation-funded camp experience for middle-grade girls to learn ubicomp, programming, and community building through a thrilling interactive story with participants utilizing wearable electronics like the micro:bit. With Joshua Archer (president, The Game Academy), Dr. Katherine Isbister (director of UC Santa Cruz’s Social Emotional Technology Lab), Dr. Elena Márquez Segura (assistant professor at ‎Universidad Carlos III de Madrid), Ella Dagan (design-researcher at UC Santa Cruz’s Social Emotional Technology Lab), James Fey (design-researcher at UC Santa Cruz’s Social Emotional Technology Lab), Jasmine Florentine (co-designer, The Anywear Academy). Moderated by Aaron Vanek (co-designer, The Anywear Academy) Links: https://linktr.ee/AaronJV

July 22, 2021 5:00 - 6:00 pm PST

 

 

The 21st century has seen a boom of educators bringing comics and graphic novels into their classrooms. As this movement has made its way towards widespread acceptance, the publishing industry has become an amazing collaborator/resource for educators around the world. Gina Gagliano (publishing director, Random House Graphic), Jill Gerber (teacher), and Steenz (cartoonist, editor, professor) discuss the synergistic relationship between classroom and publishing house in a panel moderated by Adam Ebert (teacher, Lit-X).

July 22, 2021 6:00 - 7:00 pm PST

 

 

The experiences of college students and educators during the last year were inseparable from the horrors of both the COVID-19 pandemic and the realities of anti-Black racism. Enter Lovecraft Country, a powerful horror sci-fi story set in Jim Crow America, where the onscreen monsters and ghosts paled in comparison to the true horrors facing the protagonists. Numerous courses, lesson plans, and campus conversations emerged from Lovecraft Country, which served as both an analogy and an outlet for college students and educators alike. Join this panel of educators as they reflect on the impact this story had on their experiences, the impact of Black horror and sci-fi, and the power of telling our own story. Panelists: Jada Anderson, assistant resident director, UCLA; Alfred Day, associate dean of students, UC Berkeley; Dr. Andrea Letamendi, director of student resilience, UCLA, The Arkham Sessions Podcast; Dr. David Surratt, vice president and dean of students, University of Oklahoma

July 22, 2021 6:00 - 7:00 pm PST

 

 

TTRPGs have the power to build communities, explore mental health in a safe space, and raise funds for important charity causes. Panelists Fenway Jones (Jasper’s Game Day, @FenwayTeenDM), DeAngelo Murillo (writer/game designer, @That_DeAngelo), StarShinobi (D&D supplemental writer/creator, @StarShinobi), and Dan Wood (Creators, Assemble! Inc. comics librarian, @caffeinated_dan), discuss strategies, tech, educational learning outcomes, comics, and the all-inclusive welcoming nature of TTRPGS that has continued to build. Moderated by Grace Edinger (@DnDingbats).