Canva as a Digital Tool for Effective University Student Presentation Experience

Abstract

This study examined university students’ perceptions of Canva as a digital tool for academic presentations, focusing on usability, functionality, and its impact on presentation experience. A total of 110 students from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Pulau Pinang participated, responding to a Likert-scale questionnaire and open-ended questions. The findings revealed strong agreement on Canva’s ease of use (M = 4.53), visual appeal (M = 4.45), and confidence enhancement (M = 4.38). The instrument showed high internal reliability (α = 0.964 for usability, α = 0.930 for presentation experience). Qualitative feedback reinforced these results, highlighting Canva’s drag-and-drop interface, templates, and multimedia features as key strengths, while also noting limitations such as Pro content restrictions and internet reliance. These results align with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), particularly students’ high Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness, which influence their continued intention to use Canva. The platform also reflects principles from Multimodal Learning Theory, enabling students to combine visual, textual, and audio elements for more engaging, meaningful presentations. The study concludes that Canva supports creativity, reduces anxiety, and enhances message clarity, making it a relevant and learner-centred tool in higher education. It recommends institutional adoption of Canva, subscription to Canva for Education, and structured training for both students and educators. Overall, Canva demonstrates strong potential to foster digital literacy and improve communication skills across academic contexts.