The Online Learning Tool Review, which CITL launched last fall, is now complete. The final decisions reflect not only the data collected but also feedback from faculty, university leadership, and the Faculty Senate, so thank you to everyone who contributed their perspectives.

Based on institutional usage data, feedback, and vendor negotiations, we are moving forward with revised license agreements beginning FY27 (beginning July 1, 2026), that significantly reduces costs for the university while taking into account the importance of supporting instructional needs where the reviewed tools provide value.

Here are the details for each of the tools we reviewed:

Respondus

This tool will be renewed without reduction in users or capabilities. Respondus can be used as a standalone LockDown Browser to secure online exams by restricting access to other websites, applications, and system functions during testing. It can also be paired with Respondus Monitor, which adds automated proctoring through webcam recording, screen capture (optional), and AI-driven analytics that flag potentially suspicious behaviors for instructor review. Faculty can enable Respondus within their course test settings and are encouraged to provide students with a low-stakes practice quiz to ensure a smooth testing experience before high-stakes assessments.

VoiceThread

This tool will be renewed for one year with a significant reduction in users in order to ensure effective use of interactive capabilities and avoid extra costs to the university from use that is duplicative with other tools. Faculty will be required to request access and demonstrate instructional need. We will re-evaluate the tool toward the end of the next fiscal year for future renewals.

VoiceThread is not a content delivery platform. The core affordance of VoiceThread is that students don’t just watch the content; they respond in context (on a slide, image, or timestamp) using voice, video, or text.

VoiceThread is the best choice when you want students to:

• Interpret or analyze something visible (image, chart, slide, passage)
• Explain reasoning aloud (not just submit answers)
• Engage with peers’ thinking in a layered, asynchronous way
• Revisit and revise ideas after seeing others’ responses

It’s not the best choice for passive lecture delivery, one-way announcements, or content that doesn’t benefit from annotation or discussion. Before using VoiceThread, ask: “Do I need students to respond to specific parts of this material and to each other?” If the answer is no, use Kaltura. If yes, VoiceThread is appropriate.

To retain access to use the integration after the Spring 2026 semester, faculty should complete the VoiceThread request form which includes a description for your use of VoiceThread and the estimated number of students who will be in your course(s).

Yellowdig

This tool will be renewed for three years with a slight reduction in users. While access won’t be restricted at this time, faculty are encouraged to adopt Yellowdig only for student-directed, ongoing learning communities. Use of Yellowdig is discouraged for sporadic discussions (i.e., not weekly participation), as a substitute for a traditional discussion board, or primarily for automated grading.

Instructor presence is a key determinant of whether Yellowdig fosters meaningful engagement or devolves into surface-level posting. Students calibrate what counts as a valuable contribution based on what instructors acknowledge, amplify, or ignore. When instructor interaction is minimal or purely affirmational (e.g., “Great post!”), contributions tend to become low-effort.

Effective instructor engagement is selective and intentional. High-impact practices include highlighting analytically strong contributions, asking probing questions, and offering periodic synthesis to connect ideas and reinforce cumulative learning. Emphasizing substance over volume helps set expectations for quality.

Instructor visibility should be consistent but not dominant. Early and sustained engagement signals that the space is consequential, which supports stronger participation. At the same time, over-participation can crowd out peer-to-peer interaction and shift the dynamic toward instructor-led discussion. The goal is strategic presence: actively shaping the discourse without overtaking it. In other words, show students you are in the space without dominating the space. Ultimately, Yellowdig doesn’t reduce the need for instructor facilitation; it redistributes it.

If you haven’t already, we recommend you complete the Yellowdig Instructor & Designer Certification to learn evidence-based community design practices, strengthen learner engagement, and earn a credential you can apply toward professional development or your teaching portfolio.

Cost Benefit

These changes to our licenses are expected to reduce the university’s cost by approximately $54,500 per year, which is a savings of around 59%. This reduction reflects a deliberate alignment between our NIU’s instructional technology investments and their pedagogical value. Our review indicated that, while Yellowdig and VoiceThread can support meaningful student engagement and learning, their impact depends on intentional use aligned with their core design. In practice, usage patterns vary, and in some cases haven’t leveraged the distinctive capabilities of the tools that justify their cost.

Simultaneously, these changes allow us to focus resources on tools and services that enhance teaching effectiveness and student engagement when implemented with clear instructional intent. By reducing redundancy where other tools could serve the same basic function, we’re able to maintain and strengthen the support we provide. This approach demonstrates CITL’s commitment to fiscal sustainability and investment in high-impact teaching practices.

Next Steps

CITL will contact affected faculty directly, and additional details are available on the Online Learning Tool Review page. CITL will continue evaluating usage of these tools to inform future licensing decisions. Please feel free to reach out to CITL if you have any questions not covered on the tool review page.