Situation
WaterBear, based in the UK, was founded on the belief that creative careers don’t have to lead to commercial fame, but they do require resilience. So much so, that their very namesake is a nod to the lesser-known but most resilient organism on the planet - the tardigrade (aka WaterBear).
The team welcomes an eclectic student base pursuing varied creative careers - from songwriting and production to music business and content creation. Their community includes not only young artists starting out but also mature learners, career changers and neurodivergent students seeking flexible, inclusive routes to creative success. Many balance study with full-time jobs, families or life on the road as working musicians. For this diverse mixture of students - accessibility and flexibility are key.
Insights
WaterBear knew that in order to embed the values of diversity, inclusion and creativity in every aspect of the student experience, they’d need to think seriously about their online learning provision.
They needed an LMS that could flex to individual learning styles, accommodate asynchronous study, and integrate a wide array of creative tools.
After shopping around, WaterBear soon discovered that traditional LMSs were too rigid for their needs - and opted for Canvas as the LMS to power their online learning provision.
Our students are parents, performers, producers, neurodivergent learners, and sometimes all of the above. Canvas LMS offers an online learning environment that can meet students where they are, without losing the sense of community and creativity that makes WaterBear special
Kaya Herstad-Carney, Head of Education (Online), WaterBear
Solution
Using Canvas’s flexibility and open integrations, WaterBear built an interactive, visually distinctive digital environment that mirrors the ethos of its physical campuses. Key features include:
- Modular and asynchronous Canvas courses
- Flexible learning environments
- Gamified learning
- Virtual community spaces
- Inclusive learning design
Outcome
The results have been transformational, both academically and on a personal-level.
- Flexibility for busy lives. Modular online courses mean that learners can study at a pace and from a place that works for them - whether they’re touring, working, or even, quite literally, while performing on cruise ships!
- Inclusion for different learning styles. Recorded sessions, captioning, and adjustable playback speeds mean students can revisit material in ways that suit their focus and energy levels - a gamechanger for students with ADHD and autism.
- A safe online space for everyone. GatherCampus allows students to appear as avatars, explore virtual classrooms, join study lounges, and even perform on digital stages. This tool takes neurodivergent inclusion one step further, enabling learners to turn cameras off, join small groups, or sit in the “study café” alongside others for quiet focus.
Key Results:
- Student satisfaction: National Student Survey results up across all categories, generally above sector average.
- Retention and progression: In one recent cohort, three of ten graduates (30%) progressed to the MA programme.
- Engagement: Active participation in online communities and Gather Campus events.
- Accessibility: All online content is now designed to meet accessibility standards through Canvas tools.
- Inclusivity: Flexible pathways supporting older, neurodivergent and global learners.
WaterBear has worked with Canvas LMS in one of the most unique ways possible - to meet every student where they are, nurturing courage and creativity in equal measure, and redefining what inclusive music education looks like in the modern world.
Canvas has become our campus for our online learning provision. It’s where our students meet, create, and belong. For many, it’s the first time they’ve felt part of a learning community that truly sees and celebrates them.
Kaya Herstad-Carney, Head of Education (Online), WaterBear
Student Snapshot
Deb Lord has been a musician for over 25 years and is a recent graduate of the online BA (Hons) Creative Music Production course. She is now studying the online MA Music Education course at WaterBear and explains how online study has supported her development.
“One of my favourite things about online learning at WaterBear is the flexible learning. I can fit it around my full-time work and family commitments. If I’m not able to get to the live sessions, I can watch them all back. They’re all saved in an online library, so I can access them as and when I want. Even if I don’t log in for a few weeks, all the content is there to consume at my leisure.”
“You can build the degree and create it around your interests to get what you want out of it. There’s so much additional online content that allows you to develop yourself in specific areas — you can work on your instrument, your music theory, your music production, or even your social media and online content. That flexibility and the bespoke aspect of it are unique. It’s something I’ve never come across in any other kind of distance learning setting.”