KTH introduces programme rooms in Canvas in the autumn

The background

The programme web is part of the KTH Social platform. It has for several years been KTH's main channel for programme information. But in recent years, KTH's system environment has changed. Last autumn, the management object E-learning conducted a needs analysis of, among other things, the Programme Web to get an updated picture. 

"First, there was a great need for a common working method for student communication, which KTH has started working on. The Student Web has been developed and solves some of the needs that the Programme Web originally intended to solve. At the same time, the technical management of the Programme Web has become less and less sustainable. We looked at Canvas as a complement to the needs that cannot be solved by the Student Web, such as sending messages to students within the programme. Canvas responded well to these,” says Martin Löfgren, project manager in E-learning.

ITM participated in a pilot project in the autumn 

During the autumn, a pilot was carried out to test programme rooms in Canvas for the Industrial Management programme. EDO and E-learning created templates and recommendations to support the programme management. Students in year three tried the programme room during the autumn semester. 

"Canvas is the platform we students use daily in our courses and are familiar with from the start. This makes the information more accessible. There is excellent potential to create a more interactive environment between students and the programme management," says Rebecka Haraldsson, student at Industrial Management. 

Andreas Feldman and Åsa-Karin Engstrand, programme managers for Industrial Management, agree.
"The programme room makes communication more accessible, and it is an advantage that the students navigate in Canvas daily.” 

Michelle Eng Medin, study counsellor at the programme, has not used Canvas before but thinks it works well.
"It was very useful that we got an education on how to put in information!” 

Decision on programme room in Canvas 

Against this background, the management object E-learning has decided to replace the programme web with programme rooms in Canvas, together with information on the Student Web. The decision has been anchored with the steering group for the education portfolio, the basic education committee and the university director. 

Part of the decision is to develop common recommendations and templates. 

- The school's office of student affairs, EDO and THS are currently working on developing training courses, templates and recommendations for everyone working with programme communication. Among other things, we are looking at how the programme room in Canvas should be linked to information on the Student Web. The purpose of the recommendations is to provide conditions for communicating more equally and based on students' needs," says Sara Gunningberg, communications officer at EDO. 

Support and training in the spring 

Students will have access to the programme rooms in Canvas from the autumn semester of 2023. During the spring, KTH will invest resources to provide information, training and support in various ways. 

"No one should have to feel alone in their work. We understand that learning a new way of working and system may feel short of time. Still, changing systems in the middle of the semester would be a worse alternative. A significant advantage is that teachers and students are already used to Canvas." says Sara Gunningberg, communications officer at EDO. 

Targeted information 

KTH is also looking at whether it is possible to target information to specific groups within the programme room, such as students studying a particular course of a year. 

"We know that this is a functionality that many people need. We are reviewing its technical conditions but cannot promise anything before we know what the source data looks like, for example," says Martin Löfgren. 

Text: Sara Gunningberg