Over the past two weeks, our students have been bringing stories to life through animated documents. Using Canva for Education on their iPads, they have been creating and collaborating on animated stories, and we have been impressed with the results.

The focus has been on harnessing the collaborative power of digital tools. Instead of working alone, students have shared their Canva projects, given real-time feedback, and built on each other’s ideas. This is an important skill for their future, as most professional environments require effective online collaboration.

This project goes beyond technical skills. While learning to use Canva’s features, students are also developing:

• Creativity and Design – Making choices about colours, fonts, and imagery to tell a compelling story.

• Critical Thinking – Considering narrative structure, pacing, and how animation can enhance a message.

• Communication – Sharing ideas effectively within their groups, both verbally and through design choices.

• Digital Citizenship – Providing constructive feedback, respecting others’ contributions, and managing shared resources responsibly.

We will continue to embed digital fluency into all learning areas. From collaborative research in Google Docs to presentations in Google Slides, these skills are becoming an integral part of our curriculum. By providing a strong foundation and equitable access to a range of tools, we are preparing our students to be confident, capable, and responsible digital citizens.

Ask your tamariki about the stories they have been creating, they’ll be excited to share.