First you will create your own account in Canva. Canva offers several account options:
- Free: This option allows you to create visuals with limited access to supporting materials. Certain features, templates and stock images are limited in the free version, but it provides a great opportunity to experiment without incurring additional costs.
- When using the FREE account option, make sure you avoid choosing any items with a Gold Crown Icon, which is how Canva marks their objects that require the paid version. Canva will allow you to place these images on your design, but they will have a watermark making them ill-suited for your final product.
- Pro: This is an individual account with all features included for use.
- Education: This is an individual account with all features included for free for K-12 teachers and students
From the Canva homepage, you can select Templates to choose the starting point for your project, or you can use the search box. Then it is a matter of letting your creativity go. You can generally customize the colors, fonts, images, etc. However, a tip from our invited expert, Tiffany, is to keep it simple when you first use Canva and pick a template that mostly already works for what you need.
When you are ready to share your creation, click on the “Share” button in the upper right corner and follow the steps. You can also select “Download” to save an image or pdf to your computer. Canva will recommend certain file types for different project types. Be sure that your final use (print, digital, etc.) aligns with the file type you choose to download as.
Students and instructors can utilize Canva to create materials for instruction as well as assessment. Groups of students can work together asynchronously or in class to create a digital project. Canva allows up to 10 members in a project at the same time.
Course Syllabus Idea
Traditional syllabi can be a bit dry and easy to ignore. Try to engage students with your syllabus by taking it to Canva for a refresher. By using visuals, colors, images, dividers, or other options, your syllabus can draw the student’s attention and encourage them to review it more thoroughly. Note: all required items (such as the UNK policies) are still included in the syllabus.
CDIS 252 Example from Crystal Hinrichs
ITEC 290 Example from Karen Premer
Promoting creative expression through college assignments has been encouraged as exposure to these types of assignments is connected to increased student engagement (Miller, 2019). Canva offers instructors a way to provide students opportunities to present information in creative ways. This strategy has been used successfully in teaching students to investigate common myths in psychology (Cavazos et al., 2021). Additionally, college-aged students have reported positive opinions about using applications like Canva for creative assignments (Pedroso et al., 2023).
References
Cavazos, J. T., Stern, W., Stephenson, E., & Heddy, B. (2021). Myth-busting with infographics: Do creative assignments help students learn? Teaching of Psychology, 48(2), 117-123. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628320977269
Miller, A. L. (2019). Connecting creative coursework exposure and college student engagement across academic disciplines. Gifted and Talented International, 33(2), 26-40. https://doi.org/10.1080//15332276.2019.1655681
Pedroso, J., E., P., Sulleza, RV., S., Francisco, K., H., M., C., Noman, A., J., O., & Martinez, C., A., V. (2023). Students’ Views on Using Canva as an All-In-One Tool for Creativity and Collaboration. Journal of Digital Learning and Distance Education, 2(2), 443-461. https://doi.org/10.56778/jdlde.v2i2.117
Other resources
Orlando, J. (2021, October 11). The Many Uses of Canva in Teaching. The Teaching Professor. https://www.teachingprofessor.com/topics/online-teaching-and-learning/the-many-uses-of-canva-in-teaching/
