Teaching - Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning

Professor holding tablet for 3D presentation and student wearing Virtual Reality Glasses in front of a blackboard and anatomy model in a STEM class.

Apply for the Curricular Innovation Grant Fund

February 13, 2023 CITL Best Practices, News, Resources, Teaching, Technology Trends

In line with university goals and priorities Goal 3A: Transdisciplinary Scholarship and Curricular Innovation to encourage curricular innovation and experimentation and provide opportunities for interdisciplinary courses

African American woman smiling while typing on laptop and wearing headphones.

Reimagining accessibility in an online course

January 23, 2023 Megan Holt Best Practices, Teaching, Tips, Web Tools

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

Smiling young woman sitting at desk, using laptop computer and writing in notebook

State of online learning at NIU – Fall 2022

January 10, 2023 Jason Rhode News, Teaching, Technology Trends

With the start of any new year, it’s a time for reflection as well as looking ahead to what’s next in the year ahead. In

photograph of students sitting at desks in a classroom

Simple advice for effective classroom management

December 12, 2022 CITL Teaching, Tips

Five important foundations. By Jane Schmidt | December 6, 2022 Source: EducationWeek Over the past four years, I have worked with student-teachers from three universities

Hands using tablet and touching on holographic document icon for approve and online document concept.

New Blackboard user role – Copy Only

November 17, 2022 Diane Alberts Teaching, Tips, Web Tools

Currently, NIU is transitioning from Blackboard Original Course View to Ultra Course View. One advantage of Ultra Course View is that there is a new

Group of students huddled around a table looking at papers

Techniques for setting the tone in your classes

October 6, 2022 Yvonne Johnson Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Source: OneHE Have you ever wondered why some classes seem to “click” and others just seem “off?” Setting a positive tone in your classes can

two students sitting on grass reading textbook

Over 50 free, peer-reviewed, and openly-licensed textbooks

August 30, 2022 CITL Resources, Teaching

Did you know that OpenStax, Rice University’s educational technology initiative that provides free learning resources for students and faculty, currently offers over 50 free (literally,

One person walking down stairs in motion effect photography inside building.

Supporting disappearing students

August 30, 2022 CITL Resources, Teaching, Tips

Every semester a number of students receive failing grades not because they performed poorly on assessments, but because they stopped attending class and submitting assignments. How do we reach these disappearing students?

Group of students using smartphones while leaning up against a red wall

Messaging your students using Navigate

August 22, 2022 Jason Rhode Teaching, Technology Trends, Tips, Web Tools

NIU Navigate is a system that connects students, advisors, and services to promote academic planning and success. It has uses for both students and faculty/staff

Week of engagement

August 18, 2022 CITL Resources, Teaching

“During the last two years, as both new and returning students nationwide balanced their college responsibilities in the midst of a pandemic, many struggled with

8 ways to use QR codes in the classroom

August 18, 2022 CITL Resources, Teaching, Technology Trends

By Tolulope (Tolu) Noah | August 10, 2022 Source: EDUCAUSE Review QR codes can complement the design of more interactive and engaging learning experiences in