The Real-World Classroom Challenge
The opportunity
Every classroom has moments where learning could be more engaging, personalised, or efficient. The CEnet 2026 Catholic Educator Hackathon invites you to identify a genuine opportunity in your school community and design a practical, creative solution using Canva Code.
We aren't just looking for big ideas - we are looking for meaningful, usable solutions. Whether it supports teaching, wellbeing, assessment, or organisation, your creation should solve a genuine problem and make a meaningful impact.
Who is this for? This is for all educators in Catholic education. You do not need to be a coding expert. You need to be a problem solver who wants to build tools that truly support Catholic schools.
Choose your stream
Primary Stream
The Challenge: Identify a real need within your school community and design a practical, creative solution in the form of a digital widget (interactive, Canva Code creation).
Secondary Stream
The Challenge: Identify a real need within your school community and design a practical, creative solution in the form of a digital widget (interactive, Canva Code creation).
Prizes and recognition
Showcase your innovation and win rewards for your school and yourself!
Top Prize
Boost school spirit with a CEnet ping-pong package
(1 x Primary and 1 x Secondary Winner)
Win a ping-pong table for your school, complete with paddles and balls. A fun addition to your staffroom or student common area, provided by CEnet.
Second Prize
Bring your designs to life with Canva Print Vouchers
(1 x Primary and 1 x Secondary Winner)
Use Canva Print Vouchers to design and order a range of professional-quality products, including custom apparel, stationery, stickers, photobooks, mugs, and more.
Third Prize
The Canva Essentials Pack
(1 x Primary and 1 x Secondary Winner)
Take home a bundle of exclusive Canva swag, including a Bluetooth speaker, premium drink bottle, and stationery.
All participants
• Official Recognition: Receive a Certificate of Participation to add to your professional portfolio.
• Network-Wide Impact: Earn the chance to have your tool inspire teachers across the entire Catholic education network, making a real difference in classrooms beyond your own.
Judging Criteria
How will your submission be evaluated?
1. Classroom Opportunity: Is the problem clear, specific, and grounded in real classroom practice?
2. Learning Impact: Does the tool meaningfully enhance engagement, understanding, or independence?
3. Use of Canva Code: Is the interactivity creative, purposeful, and functional?
4. Differentiation: Does the tool support diverse learners (accessibility, extension, support)?
5. Practicality: Is it classroom-ready and easy for other teachers to adapt?
It all starts at the launch
Register for the exclusive Launch + Learn session on Thursday 5 March 2026 and gain access to everything you need to get started, including:
- A comprehensive introduction to Canva Code, where you will learn to:
Unlock the power of Code for Me to generate interactive widgets without needing to be a developer.
Discover the art of prompt engineering to build specific tools like sorting games, quizzes, and randomisers.
Navigate the design cycle: from brainstorming and building to testing and refining your widget's behaviour.
Apply responsible AI practices, ensuring your designs meet privacy standards and keep student data safe.
- Full breakdown of the design challenges, judging criteria, and prizes.
- Access to dedicated support sessions, including a live Q&A with Jo Muirhead from Canva Education, who will be on hand to answer your questions and help you bring your ideas to life.
Think Practical. Think Purposeful. Think Impact.
Be a part of the challenge and make a real-world impact beyond the classroom!
