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Canva Classroom

This guide covers setup for those new to Canva Classroom, including those moving from Padlet or Trello.

Canva Classroom isn't a separate product — it's the classroom-management area inside Canva Education, reached from the Classroom item in the left nav once you're logged in. Everything below happens inside that same Canva Education account.

Overview​

Canva for Education is a secure-by-design tool that combines the collaborative "wall" features of Padlet with the organizational power of Trello—all within a private classroom ecosystem.

How to Access Canva for Education​

  1. Go to https://www.canva.com/
  2. Log in using your UPrep account.

Setting Up Your Class​

  1. Click the Classroom on the left column.
  2. Under "Classes", create a class (e.g., "9th Grade Computer Science"). You can also scroll down to find your existing class if you already made one.
  3. Click the invite icon in the top right of your class page to open Invite people to your class. Click Copy invite link to share a link, or use Invite via email to add specific students directly. You can only invite people with a UPrep email address.

This creates a "walled garden" where only your invited students can see and interact with class materials.

Checking Student Work​

The Classroom home screen (the same place you went to create your class) also shows your assignments dashboard:

  • Assignments → View all / To review / Reviewed lists everything you've assigned, split by review status.
  • Submissions shows a running count of student work waiting for you to review, with a shortcut straight to it.
  • Recent Assignments, on the same screen, shows your most recently created or active assignments, with a + Create shortcut to start a new one.

This is the fastest way to see what's outstanding without opening each assignment individually.

Inside a specific class, the same information is broken out under two tabs: Assignments (each assignment's name, who it's assigned to, due date, and completion rate) and People (your class roster).

Creating Whiteboards (The Padlet/Trello Alternative)​

If you are used to Padlet’s "walls" or Trello’s "boards," you will want to use Canva Whiteboards.

  1. On the homepage, click the "Create" icon.
  2. To mimic Padlet: Search templates for "Whiteboard" or "Brainstorm Whiteboard"
  3. Design your whiteboard from the template using prompts, spaces for student sticky notes, or whatever other design works for you.
  4. Sticky Note Hack: Once on a board, simply press the S key on your keyboard to instantly create a sticky note.

Collaboration: Reacting and Commenting​

To make the board interactive while keeping students accountable:

  • Reacting (Like/Emoji): Click on any element or sticky note. Select the Emoji icon from the floating toolbar. You can see a count of how many students "liked" or "voted" for an idea.

  • Commenting: Right-click an element and select "Comment." This opens a thread where students can give feedback.

  • Accountability: Unlike Padlet, student names and avatars are attached to every reaction and comment. There is no anonymous posting, ensuring a safer digital environment.

Sharing with the Class​

  1. In the top right of your design, click "Assign."
  2. In the Assign to students panel, search for and select your class (or click Create a class to make one on the spot).
  3. Students can now jump onto the board and start collaborating in real-time.