Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning -

Illustration of several students interacting with large digital devices (a laptop, tablet, and phone) displaying learning content, with icons such as a globe, lightbulb, graduation cap, and books around them. The scene represents online learning and educational technology, with students studying, collaborating, and accessing course materials in a digital environment.

Keep it simple: An approach to navigating emerging technology

March 23, 2026 Megan Holt Best Practices, Teaching, Technology Trends, Tips

“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

Promotional graphic for “NIU’s Annual Well-being Fair.” The text reads: “The Presidential Commission on Well-being Presents: NIU’s Annual Well-being Fair, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, April 16, HSC Ballroom.” The lower portion shows colorful wellness-themed icons—such as a water bottle, bicycle, running shoe, yoga figure, dumbbells, fruit, trees, a heart with a heartbeat line, a speech bubble, and a first-aid kit—on a green gradient background. On the right side, text reads: “For more information: go.niu.edu/well-being-fair.”

Celebrate well-being at NIU’s annual Well‑being Fair on April 16!

March 19, 2026 Yvonne Johnson News, Newsletter, Resources

Mark your calendars, Huskies! The Presidential Commission on Well-being is thrilled to host one of NIU’s most energizing community events of the year: the Annual Well‑being

A student wearing headphones takes notes in a notebook while watching an online lecture on a laptop where a teacher points to diagrams on a whiteboard.

When homework isn’t proof of learning: Assessing foundational math in the AI era

March 16, 2026 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Technology Trends

If you teach a foundational math course right now, you have likely experienced the following disconnect: polished homework submissions paired with shaky quiz and exam

An American Indian college student wearing a wrist brace types on a laptop in a classroom while other students around him write by hand in notebooks.

From analog to AI and back again: Finding an accessible middle ground

March 6, 2026 Lindsay Vreeland Resources, Teaching, Technology Trends

Recent articles from NPR and Edutopia introduced us to Chanea Bond, a high school teacher who has nearly eliminated the use of computers in her

People standing around a table collaborating on a project

Supporting first-generation students: Teaching practices that make a difference

March 2, 2026 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, Resources, Teaching

Authors: Linh Nguyen and Yvonne Johnson According to the Fall 2025 enrollment highlight, more than half of NIU’s incoming first-year students identify as first-generation college

Colorful watercolor illustration of an open book centered on a white background, with vibrant splashes of red, orange, pink, blue, and teal paint flowing outward from the pages. Above the book, the words “Open Education Week” appear in a large, whimsical yet clear brush-style font with a blue-to-orange gradient, arched slightly over the book.

Open to change: Celebrating Open Education Week 2026

February 26, 2026 CITL News, Resources, Workshops

NIU is joining institutions around the world to celebrate Open Education Week, March 2-6, 2026, an annual event dedicated to promoting open educational resources (OER),

Alt text: A surprised-looking man wearing glasses holds two thick books in one arm and lifts his glasses with the other, standing in front of a chalkboard filled with math equations in a classroom.

LOL for learning: Why memes deserve a place in higher education

February 23, 2026 Michael Strunk Teaching, Technology Trends

What if there were a way to inject a little humor, a little relatability, and a whole lot of engagement into your courses? Enter the

Department of Labor releases new AI Literacy Framework

February 19, 2026 Stephanie Richter News, Technology Trends

Artificial intelligence, especially generative AI, is reshaping how we work, learn, and communicate. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has just released an AI Literacy

Prof. Stephanie Baker leans on front of table at the front of classroom with students sitting at desks.

Beyond the loudest few: How to get quieter students to participate in your class

February 16, 2026 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, Teaching, Tips

I recall walking into a lecture hall and disappearing into the crowd in many of my undergraduate courses. Like any hopeful and determined first-generation student,

E. Taylor Atkins, in a red shirt, stands at the front of a classroom, gesturing and pointing toward a large projected slide behind him that shows historical photographs and illustrations, as he explains the images to students in a classroom.

Teaching academic success skills for all students: An equity-centered approach

February 9, 2026 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Teaching, Tips

Regardless of the courses we teach, we often expect students to show up already knowing how to learn on their own. Skills like note-taking, reading