Webcast: Beyond Borders--Using Graphic Novels to Ramp Up Relevance and Engagement

Pack your curiosity and complete your travels through this series with teacher-librarian Amy Brownlee as she journeys beyond Kansas borders to broaden her worldview and explore how history and culture can bring learning to life for young patrons. 

Together, discover how to take students on learning journeys--without ever leaving the library! Gain inspiration from Amy's experiences during teacher study trips to Germany, Ethiopia, and Washington, D.C., as well as from her adventures integrating comics and graphic novels into library programming. 

In this five-part series, you'll explore how travel and new learning adventures can transform the way history, culture, and creativity connect with student learners. Amy will share her place-based learning experiences and show how she turned her adventures into innovative programming, lessons, and collection development strategies—and how you can do the same. Feeling adventurous? You'll also learn how you can apply for your own travel-and-learn experience!

WEBCAST | Session 4
Beyond Borders Series 
Using Graphic Novels to Ramp Up 
Relevance and Engagement

Discover how to leverage the popularity of comics and graphic novels to engage students and ramp up their excitement for reading. View this recorded webcast at your convenience to learn about Amy's experiences at a National Endowment for the Humanities teacher institute on teaching with comics at the Center for Comic Studies, San Diego State University. Get a feel for the comic-making workshops and lesson planning labs she experienced. And take a peek at Comic-Con International, a huge comic and pop culture convention that draws over 130,000 people annually from around the world.

In this pre-recorded webcast, you will gain an understanding of:

• The educational value of comics and graphic novels
• How to engage learners through programs and activities centered on comics, graphic novels, and pop culture
• Resources that can help librarians increase their library’s relevance and impact
• Recommended comics and graphic novels for elementary, middle school, and high school students

If you are interested in the Beyond Borders: Leaning into Place-Based Learning Series, check out these sessions...

• Leaning Into Place-Based Learning | RECORDING | Watch now
• Bringing Germany’s Resilience and Remembrance into Library Programming | RECORDING | Watch now
• Lessons from Ethiopia | RECORDING | Available January 2026
• Bringing Washington D.C.'s Historical Landscape into Your Library | RECORDING | Available February 2026

Guest presenter Amy Brownlee is a librarian and reading teacher for preK-12 students at Sterling USD 376. She was named the 2017 Kansas School Librarian of the Year and serves on the executive council of the Kansas Association of School Librarians. Amy writes for the American Association of School Librarians' Knowledge Quest blog. Her work has also been published by School Library Journal, Edutopia, and Teen Librarian Toolbox. In her 25+ year career, Amy has demonstrated her leadership by securing over $97,000 in grant funding and presenting over 40 national and regional workshop sessions. You can learn more about her work at BiblioBrownlee.weebly.com.

EVENT NOTES

Webcast Access | The webcast link will be accessible on the SCKLS website Training Videos and Handouts page on the date indicated--no registration is required. Explore this page of recorded SCKLS trainings to find helpful resources and content available to view at your convenience.