Online, Hybrid, and Distance Learning

JMU Libraries’ online learning experts 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:

• Taking Online or Hybrid Courses at JMU (basics of Canvas, Zoom, Respondus, etc.)
• Library Resources for Online Learning (connect from off-campus, research tools, etc.)
• Ask the Library

For Faculty

We support faculty members who are teaching or preparing to teach online or hybrid classes. Faculty can:

• Consult Teach an Online, Hybrid, or Hyflex Course at JMU
• Get personalized help from the Learning Innovations & Design Desk online or in Rose Library
• Take an online workshop about teaching online or related topics
• Request a personalized consultation with Libraries’ experts
• Enroll in our self-paced Institute for Online & Hybrid Learning

Need Help with Canvas?

The Canvas Larning Management System (LMS) 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 Okta.
• Learn about Teaching with Canvas at JMU.
• Learn about Taking Classes with Canvas at JMU.
• New instructor? Contact LIDdesk@jmu.edu to set up a new Canvas site for your class AND refer to our Teaching with Canvas page to get started.
• If you would like help with Canvas, contact the Learning Innovations & Design Desk online or in Rose Library.

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.