What Schools (Teachers & Students) Need To Know About Canva For Education

What is Canva?

Canva is a graphics design tool that simplifies the learning process. It allows users to edit images and learn from the project-based materials using a simple drag-and-drop interface. From brainstorming as a collaborative group to creating individual projects, it has plenty of potential uses in the classroom. Since it is optimized for Chrome books, more image-intensive projects can also be processed on most machines with smoother interaction. The platform has 420,000+ templates, over 75 million premium photos, videos and graphics, and over 3,000 fonts, all of which are free to use. These numbers go above and beyond if you buy the premium version.

So, whether you are new to Canva or an expert, you can start and progress through a topic very easily using the templates and other available tools.

In other words, Canva for Education is the learning-based extension of Canva, where interactive, immersive teaching and learning can take place virtually. In times where conducting offline classes is not permitted or remote teaching has become the go-to option, Canva for Education can help facilitate a learning environment that mimics the educational continuity, access, and structure that makes traditional schools of utmost importance. The platform is a way to continue the classes and lessons online without having slow, clumsy technology getting on the way.

Why Canva for Education?

Canva for Education is an unflawed platform, perfect for a teacher or educator switching to remote teaching or online classes and those who want to strengthen their classroom creativity. The main advantage is whether educators or students; both can access Canva for free, with no offerings or time limits. 

Canva is compatible with platforms that most of us already use, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and Google Classroom, so registration does not mean giving up the processes you have created and streamlined elsewhere. Also, as a teaching tool, Canva is extremely good at encouraging creativity, enhancing collaboration and streamlining work. 

With its easy-to-use features and a one-stop connection for student access, Canva for Education is built for everyone. 

Which are the Canva features for education?

Canva is fully jam-packed with features; many, however, are education specific. The best and notable feature is that Canva self-saves the work, making it rare to lose the work. 

Its templates are fantastic to make any presentation, poster, or image more impactful; it also has various powerful sub-tools.

Another powerful characteristic is that it allows teachers to set up a virtual classroom, invite students and ask them to collaborate on a project. In addition, it can be used in class or remotely, using a video chat tool. 

Users can connect to Zoom and then present the screen to share the slides with the class. 

Canva for Education also allows users to put in their comments with @ options (to mention), sending alerts to the teacher. By using this feature, students learn about their work as they go to feel confident that they are moving in the right direction. 

In addition, it includes a suite of integrated course construction using which admins, designers, and instructors can enable many Eternal Apps (LTI Tools) and services. In addition, its ever-growing app library offers a wide array of content repositories, interactive resources, social media integrations, assessment tools and other digital learning and teaching resources.

Not only this, instructional designers and instructors may create and share course content using Assignments, Discussions, Modules, Quizzes, and Pages. Users can also choose to promote a collaborative learning experience using collaborations, conferences and groups. In addition, they can use these areas to find learning materials and interact with other course users.

The platform also allows institutions and instructors to add state and institutional learning outcomes to rubrics to assess and track student skill development and learning achievement. Moreover, course creators are free to use the Course Import Tool to bulk-upload pre-existing LMS course packages and course materials.

Using SpeedGrader, educators can provide students with comprehensive feedback on assignment and quiz submissions and use Canvas Gradebook to report their progress so far. They can also use Chat to facilitate real-time course interactions, communicate course news and updates with students using its Announcements feature and the Calendar and Syllabus.

To gain greater insight into student success and make informed instructional decisions, educators can use the data stored in Canvas Analytics. Additionally, admins can access SQL data about their Canvas user and usage details from Canvas Data Services.

Other Additional Canvas Features For Schools (Teachers & Students)

Schools may choose to incorporate other Canvas features specially designed to meet diverse institutional, educational and learning needs.

Canvas Catalog is a digital market where students can register, enrol, and pay to access the preferred courses.

Canvas Studio is a highly interactive video management platform that helps improve student engagement and collaboration.

Canvas Commons is a library of learning objects where teachers can store course content for their use and collaboration with colleagues both within and outside their institution.

MasteryConnect enables designers and educators to create, deploy and manage formative and summative assessments throughout an institution. In addition, it provides educational institutions with usable data to improve teaching and learning.

Portfolium is an ePortfolio platform that fits right inside Canva. However, students always access their Portfolium portfolios outside of Canva even after losing access to the LMS.

How to get started with Canva for your school?

First of all, sign up to Canva with your school email account to get started. Then, head to Canva for Education read all available features and tools before scrolling down and recording, using pertinent details about yourself and your teaching role. You should hear back from a Canva team member within 24 hours, and once you are approved, you are ready and raring to go.

Once approved, you can begin creating your virtual classroom and invite students on the platform.

Video Support/Tutorial:

To learn more, click here.

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About the Author

Author: Saniya Khan

I am Saniya Khan, Copy-Editor at EdTechReview - India’s leading edtech media. As a part of the group, my aim is to spread awareness on the growing edtech market by guiding all educational stakeholders on latest and quality news, information and resources. A voraciously curious writer with a dedication to excellence creates interesting yet informational pieces, playing with words since 2016.