Top Hat at JMU

Overview

Top Hat is an option in Canvas that enables you to create interactive lectures, quizzes, polls and more, allowing students to participate using their devices. Designed to enhance student engagement and improve learning outcomes, Top Hat also provides assessment tools and analytics. Using Top Hat can help you gain insights into student performance, enabling you to adopt data-driven teaching strategies and provide personalized feedback. This tool is suitable for any discipline and works in in-person, hybrid, and online learning environments.

Both Top Hat and Poll Everywhere can be used in the classroom to poll your students and actively engage them in the material you are teaching.

Visit the links below to learn more about Top Hat:

• What is Top Hat
• Top Hat walkthrough

Who can Use Top Hat?

JMU faculty, staff, and students.

How Can I Get Started Using Top Hat?

Faculty and staff can access Top Hat through Top Hat’s web portal or a Canvas course.

To add Top Hat to a Canvas Course:

1. Open Canvas Course
2. Select Settings
3. Select Navigation
4. Enable Top Hat
5. Save navigation options
6. Select Top Hat in Course Navigation

Top Hat web portal account setup:

• Faculty account setup
• Student account setup

View a slideshow guide for faculty on using Top Hat.

Where can I get help/support?

For account support and training, contact Top Hat:

• Top Hat online support
• Top Hat video instruction
• Top Hat FAQ

For consultation or support with teaching and learning with Top Hat, contact JMU Libraries’ Learning Innovations & Design Desk:

• Location: Learning Innovations & Design Desk online or in Rose Library
• Phone: (540) 568-6799 (Press 3)
• Email: LIDDesk@jmu.edu
• Personalized consultation: Request a consultation and choose “Instructional Design” as the “JMU Libraries Area of Expertise”
• Microsoft Teams Discussion Forum: Join the ‘JMU Polling Software Collaboration’ team on Microsoft Teams. Managed by Matt Underwood, this team includes helpful, up-to-date information and an opportunity to discuss Poll Everywhere or Top Hat with peers and experts. To find this team, go to Microsoft Teams and use the join code ‘3i2agus’ or search for ‘JMU Polling Software Collaboration’ in the top-right corner.