Creating AI Magic with Canva for Education

Purpose & objective

Purpose: To acquaint educators with the powerful capabilities of Canva’s Magic tools, emphasizing how these tools can revolutionize classroom engagement, streamline teacher workflow, accommodate the diverse needs of K-12 learners, and prepare our students for a world where AI is going to be integral.

Knowledge Outcomes: Participants will be well-versed with the functionalities of Canva's magic tools like Magic Write, Magic Design, Magic Edit, Canva Assistant, Text to Image, Grab Text, Magic Expand, and more!

Skill Development: Participants will gain hands-on experience, mastering how to incorporate these tools into lesson designs, thus ensuring deeper student engagement and understanding.

Collaboration & Creativity: By session end, participants will know how to utilize Canva as a platform for creating and integrating collaborative and creative student activities and projects into lesson design.

Educational Challenge:
Modern K-12 classrooms face the challenge of keeping digitally native students engaged while ensuring inclusivity and addressing diverse learning styles. Additionally, we need to provide our students the skills to adapt in a world where AI is growing exponentially.

Technology Intervention:
Canva, an online design platform equipped with tools and AI functionalities. Special emphasis on lesser-known features like Magic Video, Beat Sync, and 3rd Party AI apps.

Lesson Plans/Instructional Activities:
Interactive Demonstrations: We will demonstrate the use of the AI Magic tools and provide examples of how teachers can bring these tools into learning.

Outline

Introduction (5 minutes)
Content: Brief on Canva's relevance in the K-12 classroom.
Activity: Quick poll on participants' familiarity with Canva.
Process: Digital polling tool or a show of hands.

Exploring Canva's Magic Tools (30 minutes)
Content: Highlighting key tools: Magic Write, Magic Design, Magic Edit, Grab Text, Text to Image, and more.
Activity: Participants follow along on their devices, experimenting with each tool.
Process: Demonstration first, then hands-on exploration. Brief peer interactions to exchange discoveries.

Creative Challenge (10 minutes)
Content: Participants create a design with tools explored.
Activity: Participants have time to create design with support
Process: Instructions will be shared and participants will design using their devices. Presenters will rotate around the room answering questions and offering support and feedback.

Sharing & Feedback Round (10 minutes)
Content: Participants will share their designs in a Canva Whiteboard.
Activity: Participants view others designs and provide Whiteboard stickers and feedback.
Process: Volunteer-based showcasing. Quick-fire feedback session using a Canva Whiteboards

Conclusion: Takeaways and Resources (5 minutes)
Content: Summary, and introduction to further Canva resources.
Activity: Participants will receive a website of resources.
Process: Sharing of resources via projection, QR codes, or direct links.

Engagement Tactics:
Device-based activities: Central to the session, as participants use their devices to explore Canva and create.
Peer interactions: Create a collaborative and interactive atmosphere where participants engage with others, share creations, and feel comfortable asking questions.

This 60-minute format is interactive and ensures that participants are constantly engaged, either by actively creating on their devices or by collaborating and sharing with peers.

Supporting research

Canva for Education website: https://www.canva.com/education/

Canva Teacher Resources: https://public.canva.site/teacherresources

Office of Educational Technology | AI: https://tech.ed.gov/ai/

Miller, Matt (2023). AI for Educators: Learning Strategies, Teacher Efficiciencies, and a Vision for an Artificial Intelligence Future.

Fox, Amanda & Brad Weinstein (2023) The AI Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Education (The Hitchhiker's Guide for Educators Series)