Balikpapan, July 17, 2025 – As part of its commitment to fulfilling the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, particularly in community service, the Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) Community Service Team recently successfully organized a training program titled "Enhancing the Digital Competence of Teachers and Students Through Canva Application Training as a Learning Medium" at SMP Negeri 6 Balikpapan. The activity, held on Thursday, July 17, 2025, in the Integrated Laboratory 1 of SMP Negeri 6 Balikpapan, aimed to improve the digital literacy and skills of teachers and students in utilizing the interactive and relevant Canva application for modern learning needs.

The community service team was led by Magdalena Effendi, S.Stat., M.Stat., with team members including Chairoh Ulfah, S.Si., M.Sc., Claudia Olla Mandayu, S.Ars., M.Ars., Kevin Agung Fernanda Rifki, S.Stat, M.Stat., Lili Hernawati, S.Pd., M.Si., Putri Amalia, S.Si., M.Si., Sintia Kori Febriana, S.Ars., M.Ars., Suriansyah, S.Pd., M.Pd., Yumna Aqila Kaltsum, S.Si., M.Stat., and Zahrotur Rahmania Firliani, S.Ars., M.Ars.

Morning Session: Unleashing Students' Visual Creativity with Canva Mind Mapping

The first training session commenced at 09:00 AM WITA, targeting students from the digital class of SMP Negeri 6 Balikpapan. After the registration process, the event officially opened with a warm welcome from Mr. Basuki Arianto, S.Kom., Coordinator of the Integrated Laboratory, followed by Ms. Magdalena Effendi, who expressed her hopes for students to develop creative and productive visual thinking skills.

The community service team then delivered introductory material on Canva as an easily accessible graphic design platform, explaining various design types, tool functions, and its benefits as a learning support medium. The session continued with a discussion on the concept of mind mapping, its usefulness in structuring ideas, and how to create informative and aesthetic mind maps using Canva.

The highlight of this session was a workshop where students were asked to create mind maps on chosen themes such as "Tips for Becoming an Achieving Student," "Wise Use of Social Media," or "Tips for Being Punctual at School." Students worked individually, accompanied by the ITK team. After submitting their work, an interactive ice breaking session was held to lighten the atmosphere. The activity concluded with the announcement of the mind mapping competition winners: Eryna Nahda Nazifa (1st Place), Rafa Ramadhan Ahmad Putra (2nd Place), and Adistya Maharani (3rd Place), followed by a group photo session.

Afternoon Session: Teacher Learning Innovation Through Canva Educational Videos

The second session began at 1:00 PM WITA, with teachers from various subjects participating. This session opened with a welcome from the Headmaster of SMP Negeri 6 Balikpapan, Mr. Suwiyadi, M.Pd., who expressed his appreciation for the collaboration. Ms. Magdalena Effendi reiterated the main objective of the training: to encourage teachers to create more creative and communicative learning media.

The teacher training started with a presentation on the importance of learning videos, followed by an explanation of Canva tools that support video creation, from templates to elements, animations, and audio. The community service team also showcased examples of educational videos for inspiration. Teachers were then directed to practice creating learning videos in groups based on their respective subjects, with direct guidance from the ITK team.

Another ice breaking session was held before participants completed the training evaluation questionnaire. Subsequently, the three best groups with the most engaging learning video creations were announced: Group 7 (IPA Biology) took 1st Place, followed by Group 15 (Arts and Culture) in 2nd Place, and Group 6 (IPA Physics) in 3rd Place. As a token of appreciation for the established collaboration, the event concluded with a symbolic handover of souvenirs from the ITK Community Service Team to SMP Negeri 6 Balikpapan, followed by a group photo.

Sustained Benefits for Digital Education

This training is expected to provide long-term benefits for the entire educational ecosystem at SMP Negeri 6 Balikpapan:

For Students:

• Visual and Digital Literacy: Students become proficient in using Canva to organize learning information creatively and informatively.
• Soft Skills Development: Through practice and theme choices, students are encouraged to build character and engage in reflective thinking.
• Improved Presentation Skills: Their work can be communicated visually in an engaging and structured manner.

For Teachers:

• Innovation in Learning: Teachers are able to create more interactive and engaging video-based learning media.
• Effective Technology Utilization: Teachers are encouraged to master digital platforms as teaching aids.
• Professional Development: This activity supports the development of pedagogical competencies in the digital era.

For the School:

• Enhanced School HR Capacity: Through intensive training, the school will have tech-savvy teachers and students.
• Improved Digital School Branding: This activity strengthens SMP Negeri 6 Balikpapan's position as a school adaptable to digital transformation.
• Strategic Partnership: Collaboration with the ITK Community Service Team opens opportunities for continued cooperation in education and technology.

Through this activity, ITK demonstrates its commitment to supporting the improvement of education quality in Indonesia, particularly in Balikpapan, by preparing teachers and students to face the challenges of the digital era.