Canva and ChatGPT for feedback and academic support | THE ...
Providing practical and personalised feedback is vital to promoting meaningful learning. However, it can be a challenge when students are only focused on grades and do not use the feedback to improve their work. Tools like Canva and ChatGPT can make feedback more accessible and engaging. These platforms allow comments to be converted into more visual and interactive formats, helping students reflect on feedback.
Canva for Visual Feedback
Canva is an intuitive design platform that allows teachers to create visual feedback in various formats. Its extensive library includes graphic resources, templates, fonts, videos, audio, and it has recently integrated artificial intelligence (AI) into its Magic Studio section, which expands on creation and customisation potential. You can use it to generate images and transform text to speech to make feedback visually interesting.
I enjoy using infographics to deliver feedback because, instead of overwhelming students with lengthy comments, I can summarise my comments in a more visually engaging way to provide more focused, precise, and structured guidance. Using images and colors makes it more engaging and helps students better understand and remember key points, thus making them more likely to apply the feedback to their future work.
Sharing Canva materials is easy using a public link, and you can also download the files in various formats such as PNG, JPG, or PDF.
ChatGPT for Customized Support
ChatGPT allows teachers to create customized virtual assistants, known as GPTs, to support students’ learning needs. No programming skills are required; teachers just need to define the task, interaction style, and any limitations. Custom GPTs can be created in the paid version of ChatGPT through the “Explore GPTs” section.
In class, we use a custom GPT to help students review their homework drafts by structuring prompts, specifying its role, tone, and scope. This ensures constructive feedback aligned with learning objectives, helping students refine their work, improve arguments, and make more informed decisions. The impact has been remarkable with students producing higher-quality work, asking more specific questions, and developing greater independence.
Even teachers without access to custom GPTs can benefit from ChatGPT by designing detailed prompts to guide students in assignments, discussions, and study sessions. They can also explore GPTs created by other users, available in both free and paid accounts. These assistants offer tools for academic writing, scientific research, prompt design, and subject-specific aids from organizations like Khan Academy, supporting learning in various subjects.
Enhancing Learning Experiences
Tools like Canva and ChatGPT are transforming how teachers provide feedback and support students. Canva facilitates the creation of visual and personalized feedback that encourages reflection and more meaningful learning. Customized GPTs provide instant and personalized support, helping students become more autonomous and knowledgeable.
