How Wix, Canva, Shopify and Webflow are growing in the Education Market

If WordPress is going to thrive, we need more young people learning and creating with it. To see how we can do better, I looked into what our competitors are doing.

What I found out was eye-opening 👀👇

Background

I’ve always been really interested in how schools and universities teach technology.

When I was a governor at my daughters’ primary school, we started coding lessons for kids because the national curriculum was so lacking.

I worked on a project using WordPress multi-site for intra-school blogging, which improved reading skills, especially in boys. Interestingly, teachers noticed they were much more engaged than with traditional reading and writing.

I’ve taught WordPress at Regent’s University in London.

During Covid I ran online WordPress workshops for kids.

Canva

Canva has experienced explosive growth in the education sector, reaching over 60 million users worldwide. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools tailored for educators and students, including customizable templates, ready-to-teach lessons, and integrations with popular learning management systems.

Canva has successfully grown its presence in the school and education market through several strategic initiatives and features tailored specifically for educators and students:

Rapid User Growth

Canva for Education has experienced remarkable growth, passing 60 million users worldwide in the K-12 and higher education sectors. This user base has more than doubled in just one year, demonstrating the platform’s increasing popularity in educational settings.

Here’s the timeline with added dates to provide context for Canva’s growth in the education sector:

2019

Canva for Education is launched, aiming to provide accessible technology to every student and teacher.

2022

Canva’s education user base reaches approximately 22.5 million users.

June 2023

Canva launches Canva for Districts, expanding its education offerings.
School adoption increases more than 5 times in the past year.
Canva’s education user base grows to over 45 million teachers and students.

October 2023

Canva announces its most significant product launch for education, introducing a suite of new tools.

November 2023

Canva’s education user base surpasses 50 million worldwide, more than doubling in the past 12 months.

February 2024

Canva for Education reaches a milestone of over 60 million users worldwide in the K-12 and higher education sectors.
The platform is now used in more than 600,000 schools across 3,500 school districts.
Over 1.5 billion educational designs have been created using Canva.

Comprehensive Educational Tools

Canva has evolved into an all-in-one classroom tool, offering:

A vast library of over 93,000 customizable education templates
5,000+ ready-to-teach K-12 lessons across various subjects
Integration with popular learning management systems (LMS) like Schoology, Blackboard, Google Classroom, and Microsoft Teams

Strategic Partnerships

Canva has formed partnerships with educational institutions globally:

In the United States, Canva is available to 24 million students and teachers in districts across the country
Partnerships with local schools across Europe, including Rocket School in France and I.E Business School in Spain
Collaboration with Poland’s Ministry of Education, providing tools to over 5 million users across Polish schools

Higher Education Focus

Canva for Campus, launched just a year ago, has gained traction in colleges and universities:

The University of California system recently brought the platform to more than 500,000 students and faculty across its network

Free Access and Cost-Effectiveness

Canva for Education is offered completely free of charge to K-12 teachers and their students. This approach has made advanced learning tools more accessible and engaging for schools worldwide.

User-Friendly Design

The platform’s ease of use has been a significant factor in its adoption:

Intuitive interface allowing users with little to no design experience to create professional-looking materials
Variety of templates, graphics, and design elements that can be easily customized

Versatility and Collaboration Features

Canva for Education offers:

Tools for creating presentations, posters, videos, and various visual assets
Collaboration features allowing multiple users to work on a single design
Canva Live feature for interactive presentations and formative assessments

By focusing on these aspects, Canva has successfully positioned itself as a leading edtech platform, democratizing advanced learning tools and making them more accessible to educators and students worldwide.

Webflow

Webflow offers a comprehensive “Webflow for Classroom” program, providing free resources for students and educators. This includes access to professional-grade web design tools, extensive learning materials, and strategic partnerships with educational institutions.

Webflow has developed a comprehensive educational program called “Webflow for Classroom” to support students and educators in web design and development. Here’s an expanded look at what Webflow offers:

Free Resources for Students and Educators

Student Benefits

Free Annual CMS Site Plan: Students receive access to a free CMS site plan for a full year, allowing them to build and publish dynamic websites.
Hands-on Experience: Students can work with professional-grade tools, gaining practical skills directly applicable to future careers.
Portfolio Building: The free plan enables students to create and showcase their work, essential for building a professional portfolio.

Educator Advantages

Free Workspace Accounts: Educators get access to free workspace accounts, facilitating the teaching of Webflow in classroom settings.
Collaborative Tools: These accounts allow educators to invite students, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Real-world Application: Teachers can demonstrate practical web design techniques using industry-standard tools.

Comprehensive Learning Resources

Webflow University

Webflow 101 Crash Course: An introductory course covering Webflow basics and website building fundamentals.
21-day Portfolio Course: A structured program teaching students how to build a full portfolio website.
Advanced Courses: Offerings include web animations and Figma to Webflow courses, covering the entire design process.

Additional Educational Materials

Tutorials and Ebooks: A vast library of learning materials catering to various skill levels and specific web design topics.
Video Lessons: Visual learners can benefit from extensive video tutorials covering different aspects of Webflow.

Strategic Educational Partnerships

Approved Online Course Partners: Webflow collaborates with select online education platforms, allowing students from these courses to access free student plans.
Institutional Partnerships: The platform has established relationships with various educational institutions to integrate Webflow into their curricula.

Shopify

Shopify’s “Dev Degree” program combines hands-on developer experience with an accredited Computer Science degree. It partners with universities and offers a remote learning option, providing students with paid work experience and career readiness in e-commerce and web development.

Shopify has a program called “Dev Degree” which:

Combines hands-on developer experience with an accredited Computer Science degree
Partners with universities like Carleton University and York University
Offers a new remote 3-year program with Make School for students in select US states and Canada

Shopify’s “Dev Degree” program is an innovative educational initiative that bridges the gap between academic learning and practical industry experience.

Here’s an expanded look at the program:

Hands-on Experience

Students work part-time at Shopify while pursuing their degree
Real-world projects and mentorship from Shopify developers
Exposure to various teams and technologies within the company

Academic Component

Fully accredited Computer Science degree
Curriculum designed in collaboration with partner universities
Blend of traditional computer science courses and Shopify-specific content

University Partnerships

Carleton University

Located in Ottawa, Canada
Four-year program combining on-campus learning with Shopify work experience
Tailored curriculum integrating Shopify’s technology stack

York University

Located in Toronto, Canada
Similar structure to Carleton’s program
Focus on preparing students for careers in e-commerce and web development

Remote Learning Option

Make School Partnership

New 3-year remote program
Available to students in select US states and Canada
Combines Make School’s project-based learning approach with Shopify’s practical experience

Program Benefits

Paid Work Experience: Students earn competitive salaries while studying
Tuition Coverage: Shopify covers tuition fees for the duration of the program
Career Readiness: Graduates are well-prepared for immediate employment in the tech industry
Network Building: Students form connections with industry professionals and fellow participants

Curriculum

Core Computer Science: Algorithms, data structures, software engineering principles
Web Development: Front-end and back-end technologies, API design
E-commerce Specifics: Payment systems, scalability, security in online retail
Soft Skills: Project management, teamwork, communication in a professional setting

Application Process

Highly competitive selection process
Emphasis on problem-solving skills and passion for technology
Multiple rounds of interviews, including technical assessments

By offering this comprehensive program, Shopify is not only nurturing talent for its own workforce but also contributing to the broader tech education landscape, preparing students for the evolving demands of the e-commerce and web development industries.

Wix

Wix has launched “Wix Tomorrow,” a comprehensive educational initiative that includes free classroom resources for educators, a program for young learners, and educational partnerships. It aims to empower students with web creation and digital skills aligned with educational standards.

Wix has developed a comprehensive educational initiative called Wix Tomorrow, which aims to empower students and educators in the realm of web creation and digital skills. Here’s an expanded look at what Wix is doing:

Wix Tomorrow Classroom

Free platform for educators teaching students aged 13-18
Offers four teacher-led courses:

Intro to Wix and the Web
Web Creation
Web Design
Web Development

Provides lesson plans, activities, templates, and classroom management solutions
Covers topics such as UX principles, visual design, and coding with Velo (Wix’s JavaScript-based platform)
Aligns with educational standards (ISTE, CSTA, and CSforAll)

Creators of Tomorrow

Program for young learners aged 16-21
Focuses on advanced web creation principles and Wix business and marketing solutions
Encourages students to build real-world impact projects

Educational Partnerships

Collaborates with schools and universities across the United States
Offers free educational partnerships tailored to each institution’s needs
Services include:

Presentations and workshops led by the Wix team
One-on-one sessions with Wix professionals for students
Integration of Wix into existing educational programs
Provision of syllabi, lesson plans, and materials for various courses

Technical Requirements and Accessibility

Students and educators need access to a computer (not mobile devices) with an updated Chrome browser
All Wix Tomorrow Classroom resources are completely free
Utilizes the free tier of Wix sites for student projects

Goals and Vision

Nurture students’ design and coding skills
Encourage creativity and bring ideas to life through website creation
Develop digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
Prepare students for future careers by providing relevant digital skills

WordPress

WordPress appears to be lagging behind its competitors in actively targeting the education sector, despite its widespread use and potential for educational applications. However, it remains a popular choice for school websites due to its flexibility, low cost, and extensive plugin ecosystem.

While WordPress is not actively marketing itself as an educational platform like some of its competitors, it still holds significant potential for use in educational settings:

Widespread Adoption
WordPress powers a large portion of websites globally, including many school district and university websites. Its open-source nature and flexibility make it suitable for various educational needs.

Cost-Effective Solution
One of the main advantages of using WordPress for school websites is its low cost. Because WordPress is free to download and use, it makes it an attractive option for educational institutions with limited budgets.

Plugin Ecosystem for Education
Schools and universities can use plugins to create specialized features such as campus maps, student directories, and more. The back end of WordPress features user-friendly controls that make it easy for staff to update content.

Potential for Online Learning
WordPress has significant potential for online learning, offering more capabilities, interactivity, and flexibility compared to traditional learning management systems. With LMS WordPress plugins like LearnDash, LifterLMS, Sensei, Tutor LMS, and MemberPress, educators can create and promote online courses.

Conclusion

Canva, Webflow, Shopify, and Wix are not only growing in the education market but are also strategically positioning themselves as gateways for future use, effectively cultivating their future user base.

Those of us involved in WordPress education have important work ahead.