CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:
We are supporting faculty who need to move classes online. Faculty can:
- Consult our Online Teaching and Learning Guide
- Sign up for our Institute for Online Learning to be held in summer 2020
- Request a personal consultation with one of the Libraries’ experts
- Receive local tech support for Canvas and other software, or refer to the Canvas Instructor Guide
- Ask the Library via live chat or sending us a message
- Refer to our Libraries news item and JMU’s Coronavirus FAQ for up-to-date information
Canvas Basics
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 Online Teaching and Learning Guide.
- If your question is not addressed by our Online Teaching and Learning Guide or the Canvas Instructor Guide, please request a consultation with one of JMU Libraries’ online learning experts or request tech support.
About Online, Blended, and Distance Learning
Online, blended, and distance learning enables 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 James Madison University (JMU), online, blended, and distance learning includes programs and curricula offered through online courses, blended courses, off-campus courses, study abroad programs, the Washington semester program, remote practicum assignments, and similar off-campus learning experiences for credit. The goal of JMU Libraries Online, Blended, and Distance Learning 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 campus community.
The JMU Libraries Online, Blended, and Distance Learning designs, develops, coordinates, and collaborates a wide spectrum of programs for JMU faculty and students, aligning and referencing the following quality framework for online, blended, and distance education guidelines:
- Quality Matters Rubric (JMU Libraries have been an institution member since 2011)
- Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Quality Scorecards (JMU Libraries have been an institution member with OLC, previously Sloan-Consortium, since 2013)
- Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) Instructional Design Standards for Distance Learning
The JMU Libraries Online, Blended, and Distance Learning serve JMU community members to gain quality experience in teaching and learning with online, blended, and distance courses and programs. On this site, you will find support, service, and resource information for learning online and teaching online, and Libraries’ resources for online learning. We also value our expertise to inform the community and consistently evaluate our services based on current research in the fields.