Kid Pix is a computer program that allows users to creatively compose imagery with text and sounds.  Creating a Kid Pix product can develop a student’s computer skills and can align with a teacher’s curricular objectives.  Kid Pix includes multiple tools that can add the following potential options to a page creation: picture backgrounds, background templates, stickers, animation, and sounds.  Kid Pix also has the drawing tool, the paint tool, the undo button, the rubber stamp tool, the cut and paste tools, the hand tool, the eraser tool, and the dynamite tool.  The Kid Pix option of including text adds left-brain, rational dimension to the right-brain, creative activity. 

Pros 

• Kid Pix appeals to left-brain focus on creativity, feelings, and aesthetics, which is typically neglected in the academic setting.
• Kid Pix appeals to visual learners.
• The multiple tool of Kid Pix options enable student’s to develop fundamental computer skills (i.e. Cutting and Pasting).
• Kid Pix include mathematical options of creating ratios and fractions, especially through the circle visual.
• The Kid Pix programming is easy to use.
• Kid Pix creations can be used to enhance student presentations.
• Kid Pix can be used for projects to match a teacher’s curricular objectives in subjects ranging from history to English to math to science.
• Kid Pix formats well with Intel-Based Mac technology, like iPods.

Cons

• Kid Pix technology may be too simplistic for high school students to use and more appropriate for kindergarten to middle school students.
• Some teachers and/or students may not have availability to Mac technology due to low financial funding at the school.
• Kid Pix is a fun computer program that students easily find personal enjoyment in playing and experimenting with the tools while losing focus on the assigned task/project.

Content-Specific Examples

• Drawing and labeling the parts of a cell
• Representing cell division by creating a slide show
• Drawing and labeling The Life Cycle 
• Create an ecosystem
• Create a "cause and effect" slide show 
• Create a slide show based on the digestive system
• Write a lab reports with graphs, charts, tables for "Results"  
• Drawing and labeling the parts of a plant  

Tutorial/Resources:

http://www.learningelectric.com/kidpix.htm This source is helpful in understanding how to use the multiple tools of Kid Pix.  The explanations for a better understanding on how to operate Kid Pix are linked to step-by-step instructional videos.

http://softwaremackiev.com/downloads/resourcecenter/kp_datasheet.pdf

This source included information about the Kid Pix software updates that are applicable to everyday technology, like iPods.