We provide leadership and expertise in the development and implementation of quality online, hybrid, and distance learning at JMU. With a focus on access, accessibility, equity, and inclusion, we coordinate services, support, and instructional design for online and hybrid learning. Our collaboration and research efforts extend pedagogical effectiveness and learning flexibility in support of engaging, student-centered online and hybrid learning experiences.
For Students
We support students in hybrid and online classes with these resources and more:
- Guide to Hybrid & Online Learning at JMU (Canvas, Webex, Zoom, Respondus, etc.)
- Library Resources for Online Learning (connect from off-campus, research tools, etc.)
- Ask the Library – chat with us or send us a message
For Faculty
We support faculty members who are teaching (or preparing to teach) online or hybrid classes. Faculty can:
- Enroll in our self-paced Institute for Online & Hybrid Learning
- Consult our Guide to Hybrid & Online Teaching at JMU (best practices, Canvas, etc.)
- Receive tech support for Canvas and other teaching tools
- Take an online workshop about teaching online or related topics
- Request a personalized consultation with Libraries’ experts
- And much more!
Need Help with Canvas?
Canvas Learning Management System is the primary platform that JMU Libraries and JMU IT support for online, blended, and distance learning.
- To use JMU Canvas, start at canvas.jmu.edu and log in with your JMU eID and JMU Duo.
- For new users of Canvas, please contact LETSupport@jmu.edu to set up a new Canvas site for your class AND refer to the Canvas Instructor Guide to get started.
- Many questions about using Canvas can be answered by consulting the Canvas information in our Guide to Online and Hybrid Teaching.
- If your question is not addressed by our Guide to Online & Hybrid Teaching at JMU or the Canvas Instructor Guide, please request tech support or request a consultation with one of JMU Libraries’ online learning experts.
About Online, Hybrid, and Distance Learning
Online, hybrid, and distance learning enable teaching and learning activities beyond the boundary of a physical classroom. Reconceptualizing the presence and interactivity among class members, teachers and students utilize web-based or other types of high-tech or low-tech technologies to engage in acquiring and building knowledge with regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor synchronously or asynchronously.
At JMU, online, hybrid, and distance learning includes programs and curricula offered through online courses, blended/hybrid courses, off-campus courses, study abroad programs, the Washington semester program, remote practicum assignments, and similar off-campus learning experiences for credit. Our goal is to provide JMU students and faculty in on- and off-campus locations with the same library expertise, services, and support that are available to the on-campus community.
We design, develop, coordinate, and collaborate on a wide spectrum of programs for JMU faculty and students, aligning with the following quality frameworks for online, hybrid, and distance education guidelines:
- Quality Matters Rubric (JMU Libraries has been an institution member since 2011)
- Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Quality Scorecards (JMU Libraries has been an institutional member with OLC, previously Sloan-Consortium, since 2013)
- Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)’s Instructional Design Standards for Distance Learning
We support JMU community members in their efforts to gain quality experience in teaching and learning with online, hybrid, and distance courses and programs. On this site, you will find support, services, best practices for online learning and teaching, and library resources for online learning. We offer our expertise to inform the community, and evaluate our services based on the current research in relevant fields.