Canva: Creating Stunning Visual For Your Classroom

As a teacher, unless you have the skills of using editing software, it takes efforts to make your class presentation or blog visually attractive. If you ever heard about Canva you shouldn't be worried too much about this. Canva is an online and ipad app design platform that allows you to create graphic easily. So, if you are looking for a tool to help you bring the magical power of visual to your class, Canva is definitely the answer.

How do we start?

To use Canva, you have to first sign up either using your email address or simply links your facebook or google account. Once you logged in, you can start making your design by following instructions provided by Canva. Take a look at the video below to help you start your first project with Canva.

 

What does it do?

Design: Canva allows you to create design in many kinds of template. From making posters for your class, social media posts, picture collages or something professional like your presentation or letters.

Share: Share your design by downloading it as PDF, JPEG or PNG. You can also share your design using an URL provided.

Collaborate: Share your design and let your students view or edit the design.

Make a group: Let your students work in group and make class project easier.

What are the benefits for your teaching?

• Creates a visual-based learning: Visuals help to make students recollect new information better. Create visual using Canva to give presentation, to give clue about upcoming unit or to build students' schemata during the pre-lesson activity. 
• Accommodates different learning style: According to Gardner's multiple intelligences (1985), visual learners will learn best through seeing pictures, graph and other visuals.
• Facilitates collaboration: Canva can facilitate group project. Students can work together with another student by using the sharing option in Canva.
• Enhances creativity: Canva can be a great place for students to think and put their idea into visual form. For example, students can share meaningful experiences such as creating their own poster or presentation using Canva.

What are the limitations?

• Simplicity: It is actually good for users since Canva has features that are really easy to use, somehow it also means that the features are really minimal. Features such as adding sound, video or animations are unavailable.
• 30 slides: Canva has a maximum of 30 slides per design.
• Students' focus: Design can be tricky when students put too many texts and there is no enough space, teachers should encourage them to really focus on what information they want to share.

Tips  

• When your presentation slides reach the maximum 30 pages, create another design and merge them upon download.
• Upgrade to Canva for Work to access every features in Canva.
• If you cannot find a particular free image in Canva, search on pixabay.com and upload it to Canva afterwards. 
• Get some inspiration from Canva lesson plans here.
• Check this video for here to know more about how to use Canva in classroom.
• Click here for more tutorials.

Gardner, H. (1985). Frames of mind: the theory of multiple intelligences.