Why engagement matters in today’s classrooms

Pupil engagement is both essential and proportional to their outcomes, with research highlighting that engagement fosters a deeper connection to learning, making lessons memorable and impactful. Yet teachers worldwide can testify that achieving this level of involvement can be challenging in classrooms today. 

Traditional teaching methods that may have been efficient for you or I, now present teachers with the struggle of holding the attention of modern learners, who are accustomed to highly visual and interactive content outside of school thanks to YouTube Shorts, TikTok and Instagram Reels. However, with the right tools and strategies, teachers can transform their lessons into dynamic, interactive experiences that capture interest and foster deeper learning.

One of the proven methods of driving engagement in the classroom is through creativity, as it appeals to a broad spectrum of learners, and one of the tools accessible via the Skolon platform to support this is Canva.

With Canva available directly in the Skolon platform, teachers can seamlessly integrate visually engaging tools into their lessons without needing to manage multiple logins or platforms.

Canva is a versatile, user-friendly platform that empowers teachers to create visually engaging and interactive content, from presentations to collaborative projects. This blog explores practical ways to use Canva to boost student engagement and transform learning into a more creative and captivating experience.

Practical ways to use Canva for engaging lessons

Cha-cha up your slides

Just like a good book—cue Biff, Chip & Kipper —a captivating hook is essential to grab and maintain the audience’s attention – and the same applies to classroom PowerPoint presentations. While we’re often told not to judge a book by its cover, pupils can’t help but judge a teacher’s slides. If the visuals fall flat, so does their interest.

Once you’ve got past the “cover,” keeping their attention requires that same compelling hook. That’s where Canva comes in. 

It’s not just a tool for pupils; it’s a game-changer for teachers too! 

Canva’s templates enable teachers to design visually appealing slides with animations, videos, and dynamic transitions. Whether you’re introducing a new topic or recapping key points, these elements ensure your presentations are both engaging and effective. Adding vibrant graphics and interactive features transforms your slides into something pupils look forward to.

But why stop there?

Canva is also an excellent platform for pupils to create their own slides! From group projects to individual assignments, they can design visually creative presentations that build their communication and design skills, making learning more exciting. While the world of work may feel far away for many children, collaboration introduces a key skill that will support them in their future professional lives—preparing them for success without them even realising!

Gamify lessons

Gamification is a great way to boost engagement with pupils in the classroom and Canva makes it simple to create custom game boards, quizzes, or scavenger hunts. Teachers can tailor games to their lesson plans, designing everything from vocabulary bingo boards to historical timeline challenges. These activities transform learning into an enjoyable experience, motivating pupils to actively participate.

Break it down!

Sometimes, pupils can disengage because they just don’t get it as complex topics can often feel overwhelming for pupils. Research has found that when infographics are used to simplify information into bite-sized, visually appealing formats, pupils are more likely to be engaged and retain the information. 

Canva’s infographic templates allow teachers to break down data, processes, or timelines in a way that’s easy to understand. Skolon ensures equal access to Canva for all pupils, including those with different learning needs, thanks to its inclusive design and centralised access, helping you to cater to visual learners and make abstract concepts clearer and more accessible with ease.

Put the onus on the pupils

It’s not just down to teachers to drive engagement, the pupils should take some responsibility in that area too. Encouraging pupils to work with their classmates not only improves engagement but also builds essential collaborative skills and gives them a sense of responsibility. With Canva’s collaborative features, pupils can work together to co-create posters, presentations, or storyboards.

For example, a group could design a campaign poster for a history project or storyboard a short film for an English lesson. Canva’s intuitive interface ensures every student can contribute, fostering creativity and teamwork.

By integrating these strategies into lessons, Canva enables teachers to create a more dynamic and inclusive classroom environment, where pupils are not only engaged but also empowered to take an active role in their learning.

Power to the pupils

Empowering pupils is also an incredible way to drive engagement and that’s one of Canva’s greatest strengths. It helps pupils to actively participate in their learning by creating projects that are both engaging and meaningful. Teachers can encourage pupils to use Canva to design timelines, digital portfolios, comic strips, or even posters for group projects. These activities not only help pupils retain information but also allow them to express their creativity and take ownership of their work!

Canva’s intuitive drag-and-drop functionality ensures that pupils of all ages and abilities can easily navigate the platform. Whether they’re using it to add images, adjust text, or explore templates, the user-friendly interface removes barriers and promotes inclusivity. This is particularly valuable in classrooms with a diverse range of learners, ensuring everyone has the tools they need to succeed.

For collaborative projects, Canva’s whiteboard feature is a game-changer. It allows pupils to brainstorm ideas together in real-time, visually mapping out concepts and plans. Whether they’re working on a group presentation, designing a class poster, or storyboarding a creative writing piece, Canva fosters teamwork and enhances communication skills. 

With Skolon’s personalised dashboard, pupils and teachers can easily switch between Canva and other apps, creating a streamlined and collaborative digital learning environment, guiding these collaborative sessions in a simple way and encouraging pupils to share ideas and learn from each other in a supportive, creative environment.

By giving pupils hands-on experience with Canva, teachers enable them to build key skills in design, communication, and collaboration—skills they’ll carry well beyond the classroom.

Empowering teachers and pupils with Canva

Canva transforms the classroom by making lessons more engaging and giving pupils the opportunity to unleash their creativity without the need to get distracted by going to different platforms. For teachers, it’s a versatile tool for creating visually impactful content, and for pupils, it’s a platform to explore, design, and collaborate.

If you’re new to Canva, start small—try one project, such as creating an infographic or an interactive presentation, and see how it sparks enthusiasm in your classroom. With a little exploration, you’ll discover how accessing Canva through Skolon can revolutionise your teaching and inspire your pupils.

This is Skolon – we gather the best digital educational tools and make them work in the classroom.

Skolon is an independent platform for digital educational tools and learning resources, created for both teachers and students. With Skolon, accessing and using your digital educational tools is easy – security increases, administration decreases, and there’s more time for learning.

The digital educational tools come from both small and large providers, all of whom have one thing in common – they create digital educational tools that are beneficial for the school environment.