Gather Study Lounge: Tutorial Video & Guide
Click on the video above & view the guide below for tips on helping your students get started using the Gather Study Lounge, ways they can use it, and how to get help.
What is the Study Lounge?
The Gather Study Lounge functions as a “Zoom lounge” where students can gather virtually, much in the same way that students on campus might find a physical place to meet outside of class time. Students can access the lounge 24/7 without needing to have teaching staff open a Zoom room for them. It is built into your course’s Canvas website, which means that only students registered for your course can access it. You do not need to add it to your Canvas website, it will appear automatically on your Gather page.
How can students use the Study Lounge?
The Study Lounge is a space where students can get together either informally to socialize or network or to collaborate on coursework. For instance, they could:
Watch class recordings together, which can be particularly useful for asynchronous students
Work on projects together
Hold study sessions
Get feedback from each other on their work
Continue discussions started during class
What is my role?
Encourage students to use the Gather Study Lounge
Talk about it during the first class meeting
Show them where it is on the Canvas course site
Host non required events in the Study Lounge such as informal gatherings or review sessions, but not classes or sections
Tell your students what it can be used for and specific uses for your class
Help them to get started meeting on their own
Create a discussion board where they can coordinate when they will meet
- Once this is started, students can manage it on their own
Remind them about proper conduct while using the Gather Study Lounge
Upon entering the Study Lounge, students will see a message about proper behavior
Point your students to your inclusion and belong statement
If your class has created charters for group work, breakout rooms or general class behavior, remind them of this
Note: If there is an incident where a student has demonstrated inappropriate behavior in this environment, students have been told to contact you. If you feel it’s necessary, you can escalate it to the Office of Student Affairs, dce-osa@fas.harvard.edu
Help, Security, and Policy
Access
Your Gather Study Lounge is only open and accessible to students who are enrolled in your course.
If a student has been removed from your class/removed from Gather Study Lounge, they will not be able to see or access the Gather Study Lounge.
Getting Help & Policy
If a student reaches out to you regarding technical issues with Gather Study Lounge, you can instruct them to email: academictechnology@dce.harvard.edu
Lock the Study Lounge, if Necessary
You and your teaching staff can turn off the access to the Study Lounge. We advise you only do this when necessary, such as during exam periods. Remember to turn the lounge back on after the period is over.
To lock the Study Lounge, navigate to the Zoom page in your Canvas course site.
Select the settings button in the Study Lounge section of the page. There, you can toggle the lounge on and off.
Once you’ve turned the lounge off, students will see that it is temporarily locked.
