Digital technologies are increasing in their functionality and accessibility in the classroom. The Australian curriculum outlines an ICT General Capability that emphasise the use of digital technologies within the Visual Arts. Platforms like Canva, Procreate, Adobe Lightroom and Padlet are examples of resources that Visual Art teachers can access in a classroom to increase the engagement of their students. These resources assist in focusing on developing the 21st century skills of students, aiming for well versed digital citizens. This essay will outline improvements that digital technologies can make to increase student engagement. While these tools support student engagement, there are still ways that they can have a greater impact in the classroom.
After close analysis of the 4 digital tools, Canva, Procreate, Adobe light room and Padlet, it has been discovered that some are more engaging than others but can support students in a Visual Arts classroom. A clear theme that was identified with all of the tools were that they were accessible and easy to use which decreases barriers that students who are less versed in digital literacies. Canva and Procreate are platforms which are more accessible as they provide templates, simple multimodal features and simple controls for students who struggle with digital literacies. These resources can be used to increase the necessary skills and practice for students to become confident and agile at using a range of technologies for personal, academic and professional use (Beetham and Sharpe, 2011) which in turn can increase autonomy for students. Lightroom is a resource which can be difficult for students as it may require some more advanced skills, teachers may need to provide tutorials in how to use basic controls. This resource may not foster autonomy for all students as it is advanced but may encourage students who are seeking extending their skills to use. Students are less likely to want to learn if they do not find their learning engaging (NSW Government, 2020). Canva and Procreate are tools that are engaging based on the features they include, both platforms have tools that can cater towards the user’s personality and interests. Students become the centre of their learning environment and access learning experiences based on their hobbies and interests which can integrate into real-world experiences (Gill, 2024) by using resources like Canva and Procreate. By integrating these platforms into a student focused classroom, students can develop 21st Century skills like personal and social skills, critical thinking skills, collaboration and teamwork skills, creative thinking, communication and digital literacy skills (QCAA, 2024). Canva, Padlet and Procreate provides collaborative opportunities for students be able to receive feedback from their peers. Feedback is important for students to access as it can bridge gaps in learning (aitsl, n.d.). Using a place where students can independently provide feedback to their peers can be extremely beneficial to all students to foster their 21st Century skills and become autonomous learners (NSW Government, 2025).
There are both strengths and limitations involved with the resources outlined above. Canva is an unlimited platform that is versatile and easy to use. It promotes differentiation for learners by providing templates that allow students to work at various levels of complexity and ability. Providing opportunities for students to work at different levels, as deeply and as effectively as possible, to avoid increasing of anxiety and cognitive overload is crucial to their development (Tomlinson, 2013). Although Canva is a great platform, it does have its downfalls. Because the platform contains many elements that could promote off-task behaviour, leading to distraction, rather than enhancement to learning. For Canva to be effective for teachers to use and for students to learn, it needs to be structured into a lesson. Canva provides options for teachers to utilise to plan and teach lessons enabling engagement from students through a platform they are familiar with.
Procreate is an encouraging tool for students to use. It allows those who struggle with 2-Dimensional work to create with assistance from a tutorial, providing room for skill development in a safe environment. A study was conducted were it was found that students’ literacy levels improved when they were taught through drawing and storytelling (Mackenzie, 2025). Students can access Procreate to communicate what their ideas mean and display. This directly links to the Australian Curriculum as an achievement standard for year 9 and 10 is how representations communicate artistic intentions in artworks (ACARA, n.d.). students may access this platform as a primary or secondary space to create and communicate ideas. Procreate provides students with unlimited and independent opportunities to design and create anything they desire. Procreate as a primary drawing platform does come with limitations to developments of technical skills. A technical device like an iPad does not provide students with the same experience as pencil and paper do which can discourage students to experiment with different techniques. Procreate can be a platform for students to practice their skills before they apply them to paper.
To increase the engagement of students in Visual Art classes, digital technologies must be integrated into lessons with explicit structure and purpose. High Impact Teaching Strategy (HITS) (Victoria State Government, 2020), explicit teaching can optimise the use of digital technologies by using Canva templates to teach art folio organisation. By setting expectations of what students need to learn in a unit, Canva can be used to make visual reminders for students and teachers to refer to throughout a duration of time. Visual representations can encourage engagement as they can be turned into a task for students to make. This allows students to have the freedom to design expectations in dialogue that they will understand. This supports students who benefit from guided learning, structure and visual cues. Classes can use Padlet as a tool to provide feedback but can optimise it as a collaboration space and a digital art journal. Directly aligning to the Australian Curriculum, students are required to respond to theirs and others artworks (ACARA, n.d.), thus, making Padlet a perfect way to achieve this content descriptor. Light room and Procreate are platforms that are designed to increase engagement as well as provide opportunities to develop skills within the Visual Arts space. Students need to be able to manipulate multiple materials, techniques and technologies as they are General capabilities outlined in the Australian Curriculum (ACARA, n.d.). Procreate and Lightroom are editing tools that students can improve their work and represent their own meaning and intentions.
