Canva VS PowerPoint

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    I have been using PowerPoint since I was first in college in 1996. It is the platform that I am most familiar with. However, I have found that things are changing in the world of education, and I started teaching at a school that supplies Chromebooks for the students.  I teach through a Google platform, and the students compose all assignments in the unknown (to me!!) world of Google. I am amazed at what my students can produce in their Google Slides presentations. It made me very aware that even though I have been using PowerPoint for almost thirty years, I have not tapped into the potential of what a slide presentation can become. 
    Since I am one of the "old-timers" and technology in the classroom is a newer concept for me, my school sent me to a Future of Education Technology Conference in January. I spent four days navigating the world of technology. I had the opportunity to attend two different sessions that introduced me to Canva. In the course of a two-hour session, I was able to generate a movie clip by combining the power of AI with the potential of Canva. I'm not certain I could do it again without the careful guidance of the presenter, but that session allowed me to see what can be accomplished through Canva.
    This leads me to a dilemma: should I continue to embrace the comfort and familiarity of PowerPoint, or should I delve into the new world of Canva, which brought me to a whole new level with my presentation? My students' computers do not have Microsoft Word, so I will continue to guide my students through their Google Slides presentations. However, the next time I need to make a presentation for use on my computer (which does have Microsoft Word), I have to wonder which avenue I will take. Will I desire to impress and amaze my students with my newly found skills on Canva, or will I stick to my age-old pink-themed PowerPoint that is safe and reliable? Only time will tell!

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