I teach online courses so I am always on the lookout for sources of free graphics that can make the course material more interesting for students. There are three sites that I keep coming back to because they have very easy to use graphics and very few copyright restrictions.

Why do I like to use cartoons for teaching? One of the main reason is that laughter has mneumonic qualities. We tend to remember what we laugh at. A good joke is much easier to remember than a theory or formula. Even a lame joke, as mine usually are, is likely to be remembered. Better yet, if the joke is visual, as in a cartoon, and expresses a key point, it is very likely that the point will be retained.

Another reason is cartoons are so flexible. You can make characters say and do anything. The absurdity or juxtaposition of a situation can make facts more memorable. Also, cartoons are visual. There are students who are less verbal or auditory and they wil retain more if there is an image associated with the material. Also, cartoons don't have to be funny. An announcement for an exam or a reminder for a due date is reinforced if it is written on a sign where the announcement would not normally be seen or if it is said by someone who might not normally say it.

Of course cartoons are useful in many situations besides teaching online.  They can be used in presentations to employees, workshops, and any situation where your communication could use a bit of reinforcement.

Bit Strips combines easy to use, drag and drop cartoon creation with a social media site. Users sign up for a free account. Users can be anonymous. Cartoons can be created using stock characters and props or users can create their own characters and scenes using the tools available.  The cartoons can be saved on the site unpublished, saved and downloaded, or published on the site. Users share copyright with the owners of Bit Strips. The cartoons may be used for a wide variety of purposes without worrying about copyright violation. Like any drag and drop technology, there are some limitations. As an example, there a variety of predetermined positions the characters must assume. And for some reason there are no animals as stock characters.  But generally, it is very easy to use and capable of making a wide variety of characters, scenes and gags. 

Says-it is another one of my favorite sites for free graphics. A wide variety of funny signs can be made by inserting your own text onto road signs, church signs, the side of a truck, the signs at fast food restaurants and so on. It is also possible to put your message on a theatre marquee, a ticket, a record label, etc. The owner of the site keeps adding more and more options. The site is free to use. The only copyright restriction is that the owner of the site asks that you retain the URL at the bottom of the picture. 

Also available on Says-it are photos of various celebrities and authority figures.  These photos can be changed to different poses, expressions and backgrounds. A typical cartoon balloon can be added to include any text that you choose to type in the given area.  The resulting cartoons can be an effective way to make a point, reinforce an announcement or simply add a bit of humor to a page.  

Another site I have some fun with is Funny Times. Like Bit Strips, this site offers a simple drag and drop way to make cartoons. It is less sophisticated in that it is black and white and does not offer the capability to create unique characters and scenes. But there are still lots of options. No account is necessary and there are not very many restrictions on the use of the resulting cartoons. It is a very easy way to get your message across. Often I can create a cartoon in about 10 minutes. Black and white can be effective in some situations, such as using with PowerPoint presentations.