The following snapshot of online learning at NIU offers a glimpse into the current state of online learning and highlights a few of the current online learning trends compiled by the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) as of Fall 2023.
Student Preferences for Online Courses
Online Course Enrollment
As we consider student preferences for taking online courses and compare pre-pandemic vs. current enrollment and student credit hours in online courses, it’s clear that student demand for online courses remains strong. Looking at student enrollment in online courses, in Fall 2019 (pre-pandemic), 32% of NIU undergraduate students and 14% of NIU graduate students took at least one online course. In Fall 2023, 60% of NIU undergraduate students (6,844) and 20% of NIU graduate students (774) took at least one online course. That’s roughly 6 in 10 undergraduate students and 1 in 5 graduate students taking at least one online course in Fall 2023.
Program Format Preference
NIU students still predominantly prefer in-person and hybrid programs to fully-online programs. In Fall 2023, only 8% of undergraduate students (887) and 28% of graduate students (1,076) graduate students took only online courses. This is up from 3% of undergraduate students (414) and 16% of graduate students (666) pre-pandemic in Fall 2019.
Online Student Credit Hours
Similarly when looking at student credit hours (SCH) by mode of instruction, we see a similar trend for students completing a higher percentage of credit hours through online courses as compared to pre-pandemic years. In Fall 2019 (pre-pandemic), 12.9% of all SCH were from online courses. In Fall 2023, 26.0% of SCH were from online courses and 4.5% were from hybrid courses.
Faculty Teaching Online Courses
As expected when looking at faculty teaching online courses and comparing pre-pandemic offerings of online courses to current, we see a significant increase in the number of NIU faculty who are teaching online and hybrid courses. In Fall 2019 (pre-pandemic), 35 faculty taught hybrid courses and 237 faculty taught online courses, as compared to Fall 2023, in which 113 faculty taught hybrid courses and 416 faculty taught online courses.
Of all 1,217 faculty (including all categories of faculty and teaching staff) who taught courses during Fall 2023, 34.2% (416) taught at least one online course and 9.3% (113) taught at least one hybrid course.
Professional Development and Support for Online Teaching
Faculty who teach online courses continue to utilize available online teaching support at NIU. In reviewing faculty participation in professional development and support for online teaching, of the 416 faculty who taught at least one online course and the 113 faculty who taught at least one hybrid course during Fall 2023, 71.0% have received some type of individualized support for their online teaching, 52.1% have attended faculty online teaching workshop(s), and 23.5% have completed the Online Course Design Academy during the past four years.
Recognition of Excellence in Online Teaching
Quality Essentials Course Review
With the launch in Fall 2022 of Quality Essentials Course Review for online courses, CITL provides faculty with additional feedback, course development partnership support, and recognition for courses that meet Quality Essentials Design Standards. We’ve thus far recognized 14 courses and look forward to that number steadily growing in the coming year. We encourage faculty to use the new Quality Essentials Review Tool to conduct a self-review of their courses and then submit for additional review and feedback by a CITL staff member.
Blackboard Exemplary Course Program
The Anthology Exemplary Course Program is yet another opportunity for faculty and course designers to be recognized for their online courses that demonstrate best practices in four major areas: course design, interaction and collaboration, assessment, and learner support. Submitted courses are evaluated by a peer group of Blackboard clients using the Exemplary Course Program Rubric. 4 courses developed by NIU faculty and staff were recognized during 2023 with the Anthology Exemplary Course Award. Nominations are currently open, with submissions accepted until November 17, 2023. Learn more and submit your course today!
Excellence in Online Teaching Award
The Excellence in Online Teaching Award (EOTA), established in 2021, encourages and honors outstanding online and hybrid teaching at NIU. It recognizes NIU faculty whose performance exemplifies a commitment to excellence in online teaching, course development, and student engagement. Three faculty were recognized with this award in 2022, including:
- Kate Cady, Department of Communications
- Lynn Dykstra, School of Nursing
- Donna Werderich, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Nominations for the 2024 Excellence in Online Teaching Awards are due January 31st. Find more nomination details.
