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Best Practices

Smiling student studying on laptop

Ten expert-level tips for creating a welcoming online course

September 3, 2025 Megan Holt Best Practices, Teaching, Tips

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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Female student sitting on dorm bed reading a book with an NIU Huskies flag on the wall behind her

When students don’t do the reading (and what we can do about it)

August 25, 2025 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

It happens from time to time—students come to class unprepared or without having finished the assigned readings. This may happen for any number of reasons:

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Portrait of woman with dark, curly hair using laptop computer and typing on keyboard

Three Quick Accessibility Fixes to Start the Semester Strong

August 18, 2025 CITL Best Practices, Tips

Adapted from an article originally published to the Anthology Community Blog by Katie Grennell, Senior Education & Training Specialist, Anthology Back-to-school season is always a

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Female professor helping students in a university computer classroom

Grading for growth: A blueprint for equity in the classroom

June 23, 2025 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Traditional grading practices have faced criticism for perpetuating inequity and hindering learning. Enter Joe Feldman’s Grading for Equity: What It Is, Why It Matters, and

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Students walking on campus in front of Reavis and DuSable Halls

What you didn’t learn in class: Revealing the hidden curriculum

June 17, 2025 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

For faculty, staff, and graduate teaching assistants at NIU, understanding the hidden curriculum can make a real difference. It shapes how students connect with their

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Group of people crowded around a table looking at colorful papers

Fostering a creative learning culture

April 24, 2025 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

A truly creative learning environment welcomes and amplifies all voices, providing space for students from various backgrounds, abilities, and perspectives to contribute meaningfully. While some

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Person writing on board in music class with another person watching

From error to insight: The role of mistakes in learning

April 17, 2025 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

What if failure wasn’t the opposite of success but a necessary step toward it? In education, we often talk about growth, but we don’t always

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Diverse group of people on laptops with AI and speech bubbles

AI in the classroom: Lessons learned from one institution’s AI affiliate program

April 16, 2025 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, News, Resources, Teaching, Technology Trends, Tips, Web Tools

I recently listened to an episode of Derek Bruff’s Intentional Teaching podcast about an AI teaching fellows program integrated into a writing course at Boston

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action plan written in notebook on white table

I’m teaching an accelerated online course: Now what?

April 8, 2025 Megan Holt Best Practices, Teaching, Tips

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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Hand with thumb down, hand with thumb up, two hands holding and pressing screen of smartphone with speech bubble showing five stars.

What if student evaluations measured what actually matters?

March 27, 2025 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, Newsletter, Resources, Teaching

Student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are a staple in higher education, but what do they really tell us? Research shows that evaluations can be biased,

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Creative colored light bulb explosion with shards and paint, a creative idea.

Mind the gap: Tips and tools for supporting neurodiverse learners

February 25, 2025 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Newsletter, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Everyone’s brain works differently; so, what works for one may not work for another. The diversity in how brains function—known as neurodiversity—can affect the way

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Black man and woman scientists holding sample in laboratory

Embracing cultural wealth as a path to Black student success in STEM

January 24, 2025 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

The persistent underrepresentation of Black students in STEM fields has long been viewed through a deficit lens, focusing on barriers and challenges rather than strengths

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