Alexandra Bare

EIPT 5513
Classroom Needs Analysis
April 25, 2015
Instructional Need
The purpose of this project is to teach high school students in the literature and writing classroom
how to use the website Pixton.com. Pixton has the potential to be a social media website, but
there is an option for classroom use. With classroom use teachers can make assignments and
create a safe and private learning area for the students. There is a monthly fee of $9 that is
required for the use of Pixton School. A 30 day free trials is available to test the effectiveness of
the program. This website is a great way for students and teachers to break out of the
monotonous activity of writing and reading excessive papers and reports. Comics and graphics
are a great way for students to translate their knowledge to a visual format.
I am proficient with both PC and Apple computers and software. After using a 30 day free trial, I
am now proficient in Pixton with basic and advanced options. All of the students know basic
operations and functions on computers and laptops and know how to access the internet. There
is extensive research explaining the benefits of using comics and other visual literacy in the
literature classroom.
The activity would be done in a computer lab or with classroom laptops, if available.
Students
My target audience is high school students, grade ten. The students have basic knowledge of
computers and laptops and can access the internet. The students are in a literature/language arts
classroom. The students are very active in extracurricular activities and acquire several absences
due to these activities. They are majority English speaking with two that are ESL. One student
has ADHD hyperactive. He often has problems paying attention to instructions and details and
has difficulties sitting still for long periods of time. Another student is dyslexic and has
difficulties reading and writing. Some of the students have access to computers and internet at
home, but several do not.
Rational
All students in my class need to know how to use Pixton.com to create a comic. They need to
know how to create a new comic, character, background, prop, and propset. They also need to be
able to manipulate comic, character(s), background(s), prop(s), and propset(s). There are several
ways to customize the comics and elements and it is important for the students to know the basic
functions to create high quality comics.
A serious of instructional videos has been created to show the students how to use the program
functions. There will be a period of time where students can view the videos and create a sample

comic to get acquainted with the program and its functions. If the allotted time period is not
enough time, students will be able to access them from my instructional website.
I think this website would be very beneficial for all of the students, especially those with
disabilities. Pixton has variations between basic and advanced functions. With the advanced
functions you can manipulate and create hundreds of items. In the basic function you have the
option to use preset characters, backgrounds, props and functions. The basic function would be
best suited for the student with ADHD. This student frequently gets distracted or obsessed with
the wrong tasks. Pixton advanced would provide the opportunity for them to become too
wrapped up in the numerous functions available. Instead, Pixton basic would give them preset
options to keep the student on track and limit the amount of ways they can manipulate the
program. On the other hand, I think Pixton would be very beneficial for the student with
dyslexia. Because they have trouble reading, showing their knowledge of the material using
Pixton could potentially be easier on the student and the teacher. Pixton is a graphic heavy
website and is simple enough to maneuver using pictures and graphics alone. This could also be
true for English Second Language students. Because Pixton is visual rather than textual, it
would be easier for the students to show their knowledge using the program. Pixton has the
option to be viewed in 13 different languages, which makes it perfect for ESL students.
Because Pixton is a website and not a program, it does not have to be downloaded in order to be
used. Students can use it on any internet accessible computer. They will be able to use the
website at home, if possible, or in the schools computer lab or in a library.
Pixton, while an online comic building site, would be very beneficial to the learning environment
in my classroom. Not only would it increase and promote creativity, it would also engage
students in the blend of technology and education. This blend is very important for students,
especially those in upper grades as they prepare for college. Pixton is an easy technology
students can use to advance their visual literacy and technology skills.
Pixton is available at a low rate of $9 a month for up to 200 students and 30 teachers. Because
the program is so affordable, it would be easy to find monetary arrangements. There are several
ways to use the Pixton program. Because there is such a large allowance of students and
teachers, it could be used among several classrooms. If 30 teachers used this program, it would
be 30-cents a month per teacher, which calculates to around a maximum of $3 a year per teacher.
Pixton School is a private and secure way for students to create and share content. After I have
created an assignment, students can create a comic fitting the requirements and description.
After the students have finished the assignment, they submit it to the teacher (me). I then have
the ability to accept or request corrections or leave comments for each individual comic. After I
have approved the comic it is available for the rest of the class to view. The students can leave
comments on each others work.