FTT - Canva Pro: Features/Projects to Use in Class Today!

 

Canva Pro

Features/Projects to Use in Class Today!

Last year Canva proved their bid to be one of the fastest-growing software companies in the world with a valuation of over $40 billion dollars! And it makes sense - we are increasingly hungry for visually appealing communications. If your commercial or sign or presentation isn't sharp and colorful, people's eyes will immediately glaze over, in search of something more engaging. I don't suppose there is anything inherently wrong with this yet. Visual communication is one of the three types of communication (others being verbal and non-verbal) and they've been essential to our experiences since the cave paintings in Lascaux and pictograms in Ancient Egypt. So what can you and your students create in class today?

If you need a refresher course on how to access and utilize Canva, here is our original blog on accessing Canva Pro.

Graphic Designs

Canva has all the funding in the world to support continual tool updates and improvements to its already impressive list of features. The Classwork toolbox allows you to create beautiful graphic organizers, posters, worksheets, infographics, comic strips, and more. Individuals can also collaborate in real-time within your organization. You can start from scratch, or use and adapt any of the premium templates.

Brainstorms, Mind Maps, and WhiteBoards

Sometimes you just need a blank canvas to begin organizing your thoughts. Mind Maps and WhiteBoards are fun ways to gather and organize ideas and plans in a visually appealing way that begs to be shared. 

Video Presentations

Let's say that you were able to create a great infographic or presentation on Canva. You can easily turn it into a video presentation by overlaying your voice and face to explain or describe your work. We've done this before during remote and hybrid learning using products like Screencastify. 

AI Text to Image Generators

Canva has its own proprietary AI image generator. Just by typing in some descriptive features, students can add distinctly unique imagery to their presentation.

QR Codes

You can easily add customizable QR codes to your projects. Simple QR codes to link to URLs, and even dynamic ones that can give you analytic data on QR code usage!

Background Removers and Auto-Enhancing Photos

While there will never truly be a replacement for hard-nosed graphic design work, Canva does have a few simple apps that allow the average layman to work some graphic design magic. Would you like to remove the background from a picture of a student or athlete for your poster? Does your image quality need a little touch-up? Upload your pictures to Canva for simple photo editing options.

The list can go on and on. What do you want to create on Canva? Need any help creating something new? Reach out or invite us into your classrooms for some project ideas!