Student Success - Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning

A person in a wheelchair works on a laptop at a desk in a bright office.

Before you ban, require, or ignore AI: A reflection framework for faculty

May 28, 2026 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, Teaching, Technology Trends, Tips

Many faculty are rethinking their learning activities, course policies, and assessments in light of generative AI. But the most useful starting point isn’t “How do

Designing an accessible syllabus for inclusive teaching

May 26, 2026 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

As we work toward full ADA Title II compliance by April 2027, creating accessible digital materials is an opportunity to make our courses more inclusive

Three hikers climb a rocky outcrop at sunrise, with one person at the top pulling another up while a third steadies them from below; all wear backpacks, and a wide mountain landscape with layered hills and clouds stretches into the distance under a colorful sky.

The system, not the students: Insights from the 2025 NASEM Report

May 4, 2026 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, News, Resources, Teaching, Tips, Workshops

I’ve spent years on various sides of the undergraduate STEM classroom—first as an underrepresented minority student navigating the hidden curricula of STEM language and culture,

The image shows a college seminar setting. A professor with a beard sits in the foreground with a laptop, gesturing as he explains something to the group. Around him, college students sit on tiered seating, listening attentively, taking notes in notebooks, or holding tablets and coffee cups. The atmosphere is informal and collaborative, suggesting a discussion-based class rather than a lecture.

Contract grading and student agency: Letting students define the path to their grade

April 28, 2026 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Traditional grading systems can miss the mark and lead to grade disputes, unclear expectations, and even unintended inequities. Contract grading offers a different approach: students

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

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

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

Group of students around a table looking at a whiteboard with beginning Chinese language writing on it.

Strategies for long-term learning success

May 30, 2024 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

It’s not a new idea that students need to take an active role in their learning process to learn effectively and retain content over the

Male student looking at wrist watch while writing notes and using laptop

Tips and tools for student time management success

January 9, 2023 CITL Resources

With a new year comes a fresh start and opportunity to reset current approaches and habits. As you prepare for the new semester to begin

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

Students huddled around a laptop, sitting at a table in a study room

Supporting first generation college students

February 9, 2022 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Workshop Takeaways NIU’s Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning recently hosted a workshop on Supporting First-Generation Students. The workshop featured Kimberly Shotick (Assistant Professor, Student

Effective Presentation Skills Tutorial

October 23, 2019 Dan Cabrera Newsletter, Resources, Videos, Web Tools

As part of their academic studies and future career, students may be required to develop and deliver oral presentations. Students may also have opportunities to