“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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Building strong collaborative learners
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. Brianno Coller, Presidential Teaching Professor Seminar: Learning the right way to ride the wrong bicycle
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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Building resilient learners: Turning self-doubt into student success
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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Strategies for soliciting student feedback
As mid-semester approaches, we are presented with a great opportunity to pause and reflect on our courses. Soliciting student feedback gives us a better sense
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Fall 2025 events focused on well-being, resilience, and transformative teaching
The atmosphere at NIU was buzzing with excitement as we prepared for the Fall 2025 semester. The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) hosted
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Writing like you teach: Making course materials clearer and more human
In “4 Ways to Adjust Your Prose Style for a Public Audience,” James Lang reminds us that writing for non-experts—whether in essays, books, or blog
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Bringing critical thinking to life in your classroom: Lessons from Linda Elder
Here’s something that keeps me up at night: we’re living in an age where misinformation spreads faster than wildfire, and our students are caught right
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Ten expert-level tips for creating a welcoming online course
With a new semester in full swing, there is no time like the present to start fresh and to create a welcoming virtual space. A
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When students don’t do the reading (and what we can do about it)
It happens from time to time—students come to class unprepared or without having finished the assigned readings. This may happen for any number of reasons:
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Building self-directed learners: From theory to practice
My social identities include a variety of educational “firsts”—first-generation immigrant from Vietnam, first-generation college graduate, and the first in my family to pursue a Ph.D.
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Integrating artificial intelligence in nursing education programs
Written by Kevin Forman and Rob Piercy Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) instructional designers and NIU faculty are collaborating and integrating AI tools
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