While the free version of Canva is powerful, Canva Pro and Canva for Education unlock advanced tools that make designing, collaborating, and teaching even easier.
This lesson will show students what these features include, how to access them, and how they can maximize productivity and creativity — whether they’re freelancers, entrepreneurs, or educators.
💎 Using Canva Pro & Education Features
🎯 Lesson Objective
By the end of this lesson, students will:
- Understand the key benefits of Canva Pro and Canva for Education
- Learn how to use premium tools like Brand Kits, Background Remover, and Magic Studio
- Discover collaboration, classroom, and content management features
- Decide which version of Canva best suits their goals — professional or academic
💡 1. Overview: Free vs Pro vs Education
Canva offers three main access levels:
| Version | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Canva Free | Beginners & individuals | Thousands of templates, drag-and-drop editor |
| Canva Pro | Freelancers, brands, teams | Brand Kits, premium assets, AI tools, background remover, Magic Resize |
| Canva for Education | Teachers & students (free for schools) | Classroom collaboration, assignments, shared folders, lesson templates |
🪶 Pro Tip: Canva for Education gives Pro-level access for free to verified teachers and students — a massive opportunity for schools.
💼 2. Canva Pro: Designed for Professionals
Canva Pro gives access to everything needed for branding, content creation, and business growth.
🧠 Key Features of Canva Pro
🪄 1. Brand Kit
- Store your logos, colors, and fonts for consistent branding.
- Apply your brand instantly to any design with one click.
🪶 Pro Tip: Create multiple brand kits if you manage several clients.
📏 2. Magic Resize
- Instantly adapt your design to different formats (e.g., Instagram → Facebook → YouTube).
🪶 Pro Tip: Great for freelancers managing multi-platform campaigns.
🧩 3. Premium Templates & Elements
- Access millions of premium templates, photos, videos, and graphics.
- Save time while maintaining professional quality.
🪶 4. Background Remover
- Remove or replace image backgrounds with one click — ideal for product photos or profile pictures.
✨ 5. Magic Studio AI Tools
- Includes Magic Write, Magic Design, Magic Edit, Magic Animate, and more.
- Use AI to generate ideas, text, images, and motion automatically.
🗂️ 6. Brand Hub
- Centralized space for managing all brand assets.
- Keep templates, kits, and visual guidelines in one place for your team or clients.
📅 7. Content Planner & Scheduler
- Schedule posts directly to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and TikTok.
🪶 Pro Tip: Create one month of content and schedule it — no external tool needed.
📤 8. Export & Advanced File Options
- Save in SVG, transparent PNG, or CMYK PDF for print.
- Export animations or videos in full HD or 4K.
🧰 3. Canva for Teams (Included in Pro)
Ideal for agencies, marketing teams, or classroom groups.
🔹 Key Benefits:
- Shared folders for collaboration
- Role-based permissions (Admin, Member)
- Real-time co-editing and commenting
- Template locking for brand consistency
🪶 Pro Tip: Use template locking to prevent teammates from editing key brand elements.
🏫 4. Canva for Education
Canva for Education gives teachers and students free access to Pro-level tools with added classroom management features.
🧠 Who Can Apply:
- Verified K–12 teachers, schools, or educational institutions
- Students invited by verified teachers
Apply at: https://www.canva.com/education
📘 Key Features:
👩🏫 1. Virtual Classroom Setup
- Teachers can create classes, invite students, and assign design projects.
- Students can collaborate on projects in real time.
🎓 2. Ready-to-Use Education Templates
- Lesson plans, worksheets, certificates, infographics, and reports.
- Interactive templates for storytelling and digital learning.
💬 3. Real-Time Collaboration
- Students can comment, edit, and submit work digitally.
- Teachers can review and give feedback directly on designs.
🖼️ 4. Secure Environment
- Designed for school safety and privacy.
- No external ads, and content is education-appropriate.
📊 5. Integrated Learning Tools
- Compatible with Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and Schoology.
- Makes it easy to share assignments and manage submissions.
🪶 Pro Tip: Teachers can use Canva to design interactive presentations and students can submit visual projects instead of text-based reports.
📈 5. Practical Uses of Canva Pro & Education
| Scenario | Canva Pro | Canva Education |
|---|---|---|
| Brand management | Brand Kit, Brand Hub | Class or club branding |
| Marketing materials | Flyers, social posts, ads | School newsletters, posters |
| Team collaboration | Shared folders, templates | Group projects |
| AI tools | Magic Studio suite | Writing assistance (Magic Write) |
| Scheduling | Content Planner | Lesson and event calendars |
🪶 Pro Tip: Freelancers can use Pro for clients, while teachers can use Education for students — both unlock professional-grade tools for free or low cost.
🧠 6. Practical Activity for Students
Goal: Explore Canva Pro or Canva for Education features hands-on.
Steps:
- Log into Canva (Pro trial or Education account).
- Create a brand kit (logo, fonts, color palette).
- Design one of the following:
- Business flyer or poster (using Magic Resize + Brand Kit)
- Class project or lesson presentation (using Education templates)
- Use Background Remover or Magic Edit on one image.
- Schedule or share your design using the Content Planner.
Result: Students will experience professional-grade Canva tools and understand how to streamline creative workflows.
🗣️ Discussion Prompts
- How can Canva Pro or Education make your workflow more efficient?
- Which feature would help you most as a freelancer, teacher, or student?
- How do AI tools enhance creativity without reducing originality?
✨ Key Takeaways
- Canva Pro unlocks professional tools: Brand Kits, Magic Studio, Background Remover, and Content Planner.
- Canva for Education gives schools and teachers free access to premium features with collaboration and classroom tools.
- Both versions boost productivity, creativity, and teamwork.
- Choose the plan that aligns with your career path — creative business or education leader.