Stop presenting and start storytelling! In this hands-on session, discover how to use Canva's latest video and AI tools to transform complex concepts into engaging animated explainers. We’ll explore the various features of Canva's video editing tools in this session. Whether you’re creating instructional content for your flipped classroom or looking for a dynamic way for students to "show what they know," you’ll leave with a finished (or nearly finished!) video and the confidence to hit record.

What

Animated Explainer - ​short video that uses animation, visuals, and narration to clearly explain a product, service, concept, or process in an engaging and easy-to-understand way.
Examples:

Why

Why would I want to create an animated explainer?

​Teacher-Created
  1. Classroom Rules & Expectations – Explain routines, behavior expectations, and classroom culture.
  2. New Math Strategy – Demonstrate a concept such as number lines, fraction models, or multiplication strategies.
  3. Library Book Checkout Process – Show students how to find, check out, and return books.
  4. How to Use Assignment Feedback – Help students understand comments, rubrics, and next steps.
  5. Science Experiment Procedures – Walk students through safety rules and lab expectations.

Student-Created
  1. Book Summary or Review – Explain the plot, characters, and recommendation for a book they read.
  2. Historical Figure Biography – Share key facts and contributions of a researched individual.
  3. Science Concept Explanation – Teach a topic such as the water cycle, ecosystems, or weather.
  4. Math Problem-Solving Strategy – Demonstrate how to solve a problem using a specific method.
  5. Passion Project Showcase – Teach classmates about a hobby, interest, or area of expertise.

How

Canva Video Template - this is the video I created; If you open this link, you'll be able to make edits to it.
Canva Tutorial Video - this is a pretty good video about how to make videos in Canva. If you don't like this one, search for other videos that might be helpful for you.

Canva Pro

K-12 Educators qualify for a Canva Pro account. This page has information about that.
​https://www.canva.com/education/
Background:
I developed this presentation to help educators move beyond static slides and create engaging, video-based learning experiences using Canva. I presented this hands-on session to K–12 teachers, where participants explored practical ways to create instructional videos and design multimedia projects their students could use to demonstrate learning.
Contact:
Kevin Smith
Professor, Dakota State University
Instagram: @KevinSmithSD