Canva is a fantastic resource that is so super easy to use. It's a website that allows you to create graphic designs for a wide array of things, ranging from social media graphics to posters for a classroom. And the best part? It's free! It can be used online on their website or on your iPad or iPhone via the Canva app from the App Store. One of the greatest parts of this app is how easy to use and functional it is. They provide templates (such as the ones pictured below) that you can directly insert your information into. You can use parts of a template, or you can start from scratch and do your own thing. The picture to the left is the poster I designed using Canva. I did some mixing and matching using a template for the quote I included and for the border, but changing the rest to fit my project.
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This app has many functions, one of those being a tool in the classroom. Anyone school age or above could use this app. Some examples of use of this app for the classroom would be students making posters to express something they have learned about. They could work on choosing the most important facts and information to be included and choosing appropriate photos while doing this assignment. They could also do peer reviews on each others posters and talk in small groups about what they included. As the teacher, I could use it to make graphics that get students excited and wondering about what we are going to be learning about next. I could also pair this app with Remind and send out graphic reminders to students. These are just a few ideas, but there are so many tutorials with other ideas and help. This quick video is clear and easy to follow on getting started with Canva. Click here for a great resource on how to use Canva as a teacher. Pinterest is also a great resource for finding more ways to use this app. If you still need some extra help click here to visit their support center.
I've listed lots of uses and pros to this app. I really couldn't find many cons besides the fact that there are parts that cost money. The ones that you have to buy are usually only a dollar but it's still important to be aware of this as that can add up quickly. Don't let this steer you away from this app, though. There are plenty of free choices and you can upload pictures and add-ons from your computer if you can't find just what you want. You can easily design many things without paying a penny. The bottom line is that this is a great, easy to use app that is free or low-cost and has diverse options for everything. It can be a helpful learning tool and a fun, unique way for students to study and learn.
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