Overview

Ready to bring your Reels ideas to life? In this course taught by Maggie Stara, you'll learn how to design, animate, and publish 15 different Instagram Reel styles using just Canva and your smartphone—no on-camera appearances required. We’ll walk step-by-step through creating quote Reels, tweet and meme styles, interactive formats like “This or That,” multi-clip montages, and behind-the-scenes clips using simple techniques that anyone can master. You’ll also learn how to add closed captions, make your content more accessible, create branded covers, and post your Reels with confidence—along with strategies to boost your visibility through Instagram stories, DMs, and collabs. By the end of the course, you'll not only have the tools to create polished and engaging Reels, but also a final project: a fully designed and published Instagram Reel using your favorite format from the class. Whether you're a beginner or looking to simplify your content process, this course will help you show up consistently with confidence—without ever being on camera. Instructor bio: Maggie Stara is a social media marketing strategist and instructor who’s passionate about making digital marketing less overwhelming and more accessible. Since 2016, she’s worked with everyone from freelancers to multi-million-dollar businesses, gaining hands-on experience in agency, corporate, and freelance roles. Maggie designs her classes with creative learners in mind, helping them cut through the noise and feel confident navigating an ever-changing digital landscape. Originally from Slovakia, Maggie has lived in Canada, Europe, and now Australia—building a career that allows her to work from anywhere. Today, she balances her love of travel with life as a new mom, teaching high-quality, practical marketing skills to students around the world.

Syllabus

Designing Creative Reels in Canva

Get started by exploring Canva’s design tools to build eye-catching Instagram Reels. In this module, you'll create multiple Reel formats—such as quote posts, memes, and multi-clip videos—tailored to fit your brand’s message and visual identity. You'll walk away with a set of creative templates ready to reuse and customize.

Speedy Creation Techniques

Learn how to streamline your content creation process. This module covers fast and effective methods for building Reels in bulk, designing photo-based animations, and showcasing your personality or brand—all in under 10 minutes per Reel. Perfect for creators looking to stay consistent without spending hours editing.

Engaging & Interactive Formats

In this module, you’ll explore dynamic formats that boost viewer engagement. From fun “This or That” prompts to behind-the-scenes content and dramatic before/after transformations, you’ll learn how to design Reels that spark interaction and make your audience feel involved.

Educational & Horizontal Reels

Focus on function and inclusivity with educational Reels and accessibility features. You'll learn to create tutorial-style content in horizontal format, add closed captions, and apply design best practices to ensure your Reels are clear, readable, and inclusive for all viewers.

Final Polish & Posting Strategy

Wrap up the course with a polished strategy for posting your Reels on Instagram. This module guides you through creating compelling covers, optimizing your posts for visibility, and following best practices for publishing. By the end, you’ll have the confidence and tools to share Reels that stand out and perform.