HEDS is an online course and uses a small number of digital tools to support communication, collaboration and learning.
The main course environment is Canvas, while Zoom is used for synchronous meetings. Other collaborative tools may be used when they support a particular activity or group process.
Canvas
Canvas is the main learning environment for the current HEDS course.
Confirmed participants receive access before the course starts. In Canvas you will find the course overview, topic information, learning activities, PBL group spaces, discussion areas, readings and other course resources.
More information about access and participation is available on the Learning environment page.
Zoom
Zoom is used for common webinars and other synchronous course activities. PBL groups may also use Zoom for their recurring meetings.
Links to HEDS webinars and other scheduled online sessions are provided in the current Canvas course.
If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, the official Zoom support pages provide guidance on how to join and participate in meetings:
Joining a Zoom meeting – Zoom Support
You can also use a Zoom test meeting before the course to check your camera, microphone and speakers.
Access and connectivity
HEDS brings together participants from different countries and technical contexts, and internet access and bandwidth can vary.
Synchronous participation is an important part of the course, but occasional connection problems should not prevent someone from taking part. If a connection is unstable, participants can use lower-bandwidth options such as joining without video and should stay in contact with their PBL group and facilitators.
We encourage each PBL group to agree on a simple back-up communication channel for situations where someone temporarily loses access to an online meeting.
Tools for collaboration
PBL groups may sometimes use additional digital tools for collaborative writing, whiteboarding, communication or creative work.
Examples include shared documents, Padlet, Miro or messaging tools. The choice of tool should support the learning process rather than add unnecessary complexity.
Whenever possible, groups should agree on a small and manageable set of tools and make sure that all members can access and use them.
Course-wide activities that require an additional tool will include clear instructions in Canvas.
A note on openness and access
Different digital tools have different conditions for accounts, access, data storage and privacy.
Participants and groups should therefore consider whether everyone can access a chosen tool and avoid sharing sensitive or personal information unnecessarily in external services.