How to create an interactive classroom poster
An interactive poster gives your audience a visual explanation they can explore. Use text for the main argument, images for evidence and audio or video when they add something a still image cannot show.
For example, a poster about animal adaptations could answer “How does this animal survive in its habitat?” with a labelled photograph, a short explanation and a video of the animal moving.
Choose a question and an audience
Write one question your poster will answer. Decide what your classmates should understand after viewing it. If you need a starting point, use our classroom poster ideas.
Sketch the layout before opening the editor. Put your main explanation near the top, keep related evidence together and leave enough space between items to make the reading order clear.
Gather media and record your sources
Collect a few relevant images, a short video or audio recording and the text you need. Use your own material or media you have permission to use. Record source links and credits while you collect them.
A science diagram needs labels and an explanation of what it shows. A history photograph needs a date, context and a source. More media is useful only when it helps answer your question.
Build the poster in Canvastera
Create a Canvastera account, then create a new poster from your dashboard. Add text and upload your media, search connected sources or drag supported media from another browser window or your desktop.
Arrange, resize and layer your items on the canvas. Add a supported document, map or presentation embed when it helps explain your topic. Check that the source allows embedding and that the content opens for your intended audience.
Use a readable text size and strong contrast. Write useful captions, identify sources and explain what viewers should look for in each video or recording.
Save and test your poster
Use the editor’s save control and choose the intended visibility. Open the poster viewer and check the reading order, spelling, source links and media playback. A classmate should be able to answer your main question without extra instructions from you.
When students create separate posters, a Community can collect the work for a class, subject or assignment. Real-time editing together on the same poster is on the roadmap.
Share with the right audience
Choose who can view the poster before sharing its link. Viewing passwords for posters and Communities require an active paid plan. Review the current plans and limits before choosing protection for a classroom project.
Search engine crawling of poster pages is blocked. This is not an access control: use visibility settings and, when appropriate, a viewing password for work that should not be available to everyone with its link.
See how finished posters work
Explore Prehistory for a history topic or History of animals for a science topic. Use the examples to study layout and media choices, then build an explanation in your own words.