Hi friends!

This week, I decided to use a good old fashion blog post titled: “37 Canva Hacks, Best Canva Tips & Tricks for Beginners” to help me with my learning project!

I decided to try a new tool called Animoto for my screen recording & it worked very well! I was hoping to use it for my video, but the free version didn’t quite provide what I needed! I wanted to be able to speed up, edit, adjust, and add audio to my clips that I was unable to do. Instead, I decided tried something else for the first time which was make a TikTok video!

I actually really enjoyed using it because there are so many choices and ways to make your video engaging! Everything from choosing catchy music, to adding different transitions that make the video less choppy and more aesthetic, to all different kinds of texts, colors, backgrounds. I used this website from TikTok to help me learn how to edit!

1. Inserting & Aligning text to the middle of the page using the grid tool

• Text: Add Text Box
  • Dragging and adjust to the center indicated by the red lines
  • If you want to add additional text, copy and paste the original text and adjust accordingly to maintain consistent font, size, and style.
  • It may seem simple, but paying attention to these small details is important in showing the students your effort and maintaining their attention
• Examples for Use in the Classroom:
  • Text is a key component of every lesson
  • Don’t overcrowd your slide with text – it will cause your students to lose interest
  • Only put the essentials & the reminders you need to teach
    • Questions are great – they lead to further discussion and force students to think

2. Inserting a background image from stock

• Elements: Photos
  • Select “See all” to browse all stock images
  • Search for more specific graphics and pictures depending on what you are creating
    • Example: Christmas, Nature, Science, School
• Example Use in the Classroom:
  • Pictures make your presentations WAY MORE ENGAGING!
  • Many children are visual learners
  • Canva has a variety of photos, graphics, elements, cartoons, etc. and is friendly for all grades, ages, seasons, and presentations!

3. Add effects/animations to make your text pop and bring it to life!

• Select your text box
  • Top tool bar: Animate
  • Select an animation that suits your design
• Examples for Use in the Classroom:
  • Animations can make your presentations much more dynamic and lively
    • Especially for title slides

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Insert Shapes

• Elements:
  • Shapes: “see all”
  • You can use to create your design or as a background for your text
• Examples for Use in the Classroom:
  • Shapes can be used as borders for your text
  • To fill in gaps on letters
  • To highlight numbers
  • Can be layered creatively for dimension

5. Search & Insert Audio

• Elements
  • Search: “audio”
  • Can specify the mood with terms like: pop, rock, jazz, chill, upbeat, etc.
  • Top tool bar “edit”
    • Allows you to increase / decrease the fade in or out
• Examples for Classroom Use:
  • Inserting audio for “fitness breaks” during class
  • Creating more engagement during certain parts of your presentation where it fits
  • “Happy Birthday”

 

6. Drawing Designs & Messages

• Draw
  • Select Pen, Marker, or Highlighter
    • Adjust color using the circle
    • Adjust the weight with the thin/thick symbol
• Example For Classroom Use:
  • Writing your expectations for when the students enter the room in the morning on the SmartBoard
  • Allows students to come up and draw, circle, point to, and use the SmartBoard during class discussions
  • Using the highlighter during lessons to emphasize and point to what you are referring to

7. Insert Polls & Quizzes

• Elements
  • Polls & Quizzes
  • Select “see all” for more options
• Example Questions to use in the classroom:
  • Who is the premier of Saskatchewan?
  • Which of the following are considered adjectives?
  • Which of the following is NOT part of an animal cell?
  • What subject do you enjoy most?
  • What is your favourite part of winter?

8. Insert Graphs & Charts

• Elements
  • Graphs & Charts – “see all”
    • Line
    • Bar
    • Scatter
    • Pie
    • Infographic
    • Area
• Examples for Classroom Use:
  • Input math activity data for students to see
  • Show the students trend lines, patterns, etc.
  • Use different colors to compare

9. Create Holiday Cards / Invitations

• Elements
  • Search “Christmas”
• Examples for Use in the Classroom:
  • Show students inspiration for different holidays and events like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Mother’s/Father’s day
  • Keep your presentations festive and relative to the time of year!