Paying It Forward

Posted September 1, 2020 in Educational Technology News, Giving to JMU Libraries News, JMU Libraries News

In the spring of 2020, the JMU Libraries did the unimaginable. We helped move all JMU courses online in a week and a half. Like you, we worked hard to balance upheaval in our work and personal lives. We also focused heavily on the library services and educational technology support that our community needed. We created a no-contact pickup service for books while our buildings were closed. And we taught video editing and lecture capture to our professors so they could continue to teach from a distance. We answered thousands of chat questions, enrolled almost 500 faculty in online workshops and a summer institute, and helped the JMU class of 2020 finish the semester strong.

At JMU Libraries, we’re on the front lines with faculty as they learn new ways of teaching in the era of COVID-19. Almost overnight, the demand for our skills and expertise in online teaching exploded, and the need for professional development for our staff is more significant than ever as we look toward a future where resources and expertise for online or virtual learning support will be increasingly necessary.

Please consider making a gift to the Martha T. Boaz fund, which supports professional development for JMU Libraries staff, as part of Paying it Forward, JMU’s Giving Week. Your gift will help us to stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices in online teaching and other areas so that we can best support the campus community.