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Teaching

A person wearing a bright yellow hoodie sits at a desk using a laptop, smiling and gesturing with their hands as if recording a spoken response to a video. They are wearing wireless earbuds. On the desk are papers, a calculator, a smartphone, a notebook, a coffee mug, and a small potted plant. The background shows a softly lit living space with shelves and decorative items.

When should you use VoiceThread? Choosing the right tool for media sharing and interaction

April 22, 2026 CITL Best Practices, News, Resources, Teaching, Technology Trends, Tips, Web Tools

Video content can be an integral part of any course, but especially asynchronous online classes. How you share that content—and to what end—matters. There are

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Five adults standing side by side against a plain background, smiling and holding colorful speech bubble signs in different shapes, suggesting conversation or discussion.

When should you choose Yellowdig? Choosing the right tool for engagement

April 22, 2026 CITL Best Practices, Newsletter, Resources, Teaching, Technology Trends, Tips, Web Tools

How do you decide which digital engagement tool to use in your courses? Ideally, you would start with the pedagogy: what do you want students

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A woman wearing headphones sits on a beanbag chair with a laptop, raising her arms in excitement inside a modern, glass-walled building.

Online Learning Tool Review updates and announcements

April 13, 2026 CITL News, Teaching, Web Tools

The Online Learning Tool Review, which CITL launched last fall, is now complete. The final decisions reflect not only the data collected but also feedback

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Students sit at a table with different projects spread out among them.

Choose-your-own-adventure assessments: A flexible approach to measuring learning

March 30, 2026 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Our student populations are evolving, and we’re seeing that traditional “one-size-fits-all” assessments are becoming recognized as less effective. As students’ learning experiences shift—and as some

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Professor teaching at front of classroom

Teaching beyond perfection: Reflections from the Spring 2026 Teaching Effectiveness Institute

January 28, 2026 Yvonne Johnson Best Practices, News, Newsletter, Teaching

On January 8, 2026, educators from across NIU gathered online for the Spring 2026 Teaching Effectiveness Institute, Teaching Beyond Perfection: Embracing Challenges, Inspiring Growth. The

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Pink broken umbrella on blue background with the phrase "Ask the Expert"

Save the Date! Ask the expert: Book chat with Jessamyn Neuhaus, author of Snafu Edu

January 28, 2026 Yvonne Johnson Best Practices, News, Newsletter, Teaching, Tips

Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CST Online event—registration required! The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning is delighted to continue the conversations begun during our Spring 2026

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Save the Date. Concept with announcement message with megaphone.

Save the Date! Spring 2026 Presidential Teaching Seminar Featuring Dr. Mylan Engel

January 21, 2026 Yvonne Johnson Best Practices, News, Newsletter, Teaching

Thursday, March 5, 2026 Informal conversations: 11:30 a.m. Seminar: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CST Location: Holmes Student Center, Sky Room No registration is required —

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A woman wearing a yellow short-sleeve top is seated at a wooden table, writing in a notebook with a pen. Earphones are connected to a laptop placed on the table.

Encouraging students to write: Strategies for building confidence and engagement

January 15, 2026 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

Whether it’s a skill assessment, a midterm essay, or an end-of-semester reflection, students benefit from regular opportunities to write. These activities help them deepen their

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Modern classroom setting with diverse group and inspiring teacher engaging in active discussion and collaboration

“Fold in the cheese” teaching: Why students need more than vague advice

January 5, 2026 Amanda Hirsch Best Practices, Teaching, Tips

“What does that mean, fold in the cheese?” If you’ve ever seen Schitt’s Creek, you know the scene: David and his mother Moira are trying

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Diverse group of students including young man in wheelchair chatting in college library

Building strong collaborative learners

December 1, 2025 Lindsay Vreeland Best Practices, Resources, Teaching, Tips

It’s natural for students to feel hesitant about working in groups—juggling communication, responsibilities, and schedules isn’t easy. Yet collaboration is a powerful skill that supports

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Dr. Brian Coller standing in front of projector screen with bicycle image on it

Dr. Brianno Coller, Presidential Teaching Professor Seminar: Learning the right way to ride the wrong bicycle

November 11, 2025 Yvonne Johnson Best Practices, Newsletter, Teaching

What does it mean to teach well? For Dr. Brianno Coller, Distinguished Teaching Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Northern Illinois University (NIU), it means embracing

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Group of shining and dimmed light bulbs on wooden block ladder with fibers in a shape of Failure and Success concept words isolated on black background.

Building resilient learners: Turning self-doubt into student success

October 20, 2025 Linh Nguyen Best Practices, Teaching, Tips

When I first arrived in the U.S. as an immigrant from Vietnam, I barely spoke English. So I got to work and found myself sitting

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