When setting class policies and expectations, involve your students in the process by creating community agreements together. Community agreements are a collaborative effort between students,
Read more
AI detectors: An ethical minefield
Generative AI use has been on the rise among faculty and students. Tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Adobe Firefly, and Claude, among others, have transformed how
Read more
The digital red pen: Efficiency, ethics, and AI-assisted grading
Podcast-style Audio Overview (Created with NotebookLM) It’s late in the evening, and faculty across the country are still grading papers, leaving feedback that they hope
Read more
HuskiesVote Module for Blackboard
Studies show that encouragement from faculty, staff, and other students makes a significant difference in their student registration and turnout. HuskiesVote is a campus-wide initiative
Read more
Open minds, open dialogue: Navigating ideological differences on campus
In today’s polarized academic environment, college campuses and classrooms can sometimes feel like battlegrounds of ideas rather than spaces for growth. How do we, as
Read more
Facilitating politically-charged conversations in the classroom
Facilitating meaningful class discussions can be challenging, especially when it comes to political topics. Many public schools avoid subjects like oppression, race, and LGBTQ+ rights,
Read more
A year in review: Highlights from the Office of Online Learning
As the demand for online education grew, the Office of Online Learning was established in 2023 to provide centralized support for NIU’s online learners. In
Read more
Online learning trends and highlights – Fall 2024
The following snapshot of online learning at NIU offers a glimpse into the current state of online learning and highlights a few of the current
Read more
Extended and enhanced Teaching Assistant Institute: Another success to celebrate
We’re excited to share another success of the Teaching Assistant Institute (TAI) this Fall 2024! This invaluable program, developed by the Center for Innovative Teaching
Read more
Come celebrate our 25th anniversary!
For 25 years, the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) at Northern Illinois University has been fostering academic excellence and curriculum innovation through strong
Read more
What’s New in Blackboard for Fall 2024?
Blackboard releases new features every month, and some really exciting changes were released this summer! This post highlights the biggest changes; you can check out
Read more
Culturally Responsive Teaching
During the early development of higher education in the United States, women were largely excluded from attending colleges and universities. Additionally, African American people were
Read more