“We are here to support and strengthen [faculty’s] work, not to add complexity,” says William “Bill” Tozzi, regarding his role as an instructional designer in
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The superpower of faculty and instructional designers working together
Someone said you’re an SME, but what does that even mean? In the instructional design field, our faculty are highly regarded subject matter experts (SME).
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Ten expert-level tips for creating a welcoming online course
With a new semester in full swing, there is no time like the present to start fresh and to create a welcoming virtual space. A
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I’m teaching an accelerated online course: Now what?
Picture this: You just developed a 3-credit hour, 16-week online course. You incorporated learning activities, interactive collaborations, assessments, and a plethora of course content. Now,
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A dive into course design: Exploring the planning document
With the end of the semester fast approaching, now might be the ideal time to begin planning your spring semester online course(s). Whether you are
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Pedagogy of Kindness in Practice
Although a pedagogy of kindness has become something of a buzz phrase in recent years, it is arguably a familiar concept. There is a fundamental
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Reimagining accessibility in an online course
How do you know if your online course is truly accessible? Are there rules or guidelines in place to inform your course design? Maybe the
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Diversifying an online course
Online education can remove geographical barriers and restore scheduling flexibility to students seeking alternatives to the traditional classroom experience. Yet, while the online learning community
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Get creative with Kaltura
NIU’S video platform, Kaltura, is teeming with activity, but you might be surprised to learn what else you can do with your video content. In
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Fostering a sense of belonging in online learning
What is it about online courses? You spend hours developing interactive lesson plans, but there is a lingering suspicion that students are losing focus. As
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New features coming to Ultra Course View in April 2021
There are some exciting updates to Blackboard Ultra Course View (UCV) this month! Keep reading for new ways to share content with specific students, facilitate
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Zoom now has automatic captioning!
Whether teaching synchronous sessions online or hosting virtual meetings, inclusivity is key to creating a successful online environment. NIU Zoom users can now utilize a
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