**ONLINE** Equitable Grading: Reducing Bias and Increasing Student Success
Monday, January 19, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Effective grading communicates student achievement, incentivizes learning, and informs instruction. However, traditional grading can be biased and hinder growth. In this workshop, we will explore grading practices that are growth-minded and promote more equitable outcomes without lowering expectations. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Protect the Integrity of Online Tests
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
This comprehensive training webinar is intended for faculty who are interested in using LockDown Browser and/or Respondus Monitor to promote academic integrity for their online exams. The session provides a detailed demonstration of both applications, including enhancements that make Respondus Monitor even more effective and easy to use. Workshop is led by staff from Respondus. Register Now!
**ONLINE** Teaching Digital Literacy with Adobe Express
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Explore Adobe Express, a versatile digital design tool now available to all NIU faculty, staff, and students. This all-in-one solution covers image generation, photo and video editing, web design, posters, presentations, animations, and more, enhanced by generative AI. With hundreds of templates to inspire creativity, Adobe Express addresses the need for accessible digital tools in education. In this hands-on workshop, participants will create a self-portrait for course use, learning to generate customized content. Discover how to easily supplement your instructional materials with suitable images. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** NAVIGATE Progress Reporting Campaigns: What's their Value and What Happens Next?
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 from 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM
With Navigate Progress Reporting Campaigns (PRCs), you can let NIU know which students in your class(es) are falling behind and need additional support. This session will present results data (AYs 23–25) on student response rates, grade distributions, and course-specific alert trends from AYs 23–25.
Find out the value of Progress Reporting Campaigns to you and to your students' success:
- How to respond to Progress Reporting Campaigns
- What happens after your alerts are posted in Navigate Staff
- Results data from alerts issued during prior terms
Register Now!
**ONLINE** NAVIGATE Progress Reporting Campaigns: What's their Value and What Happens Next?
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 from 9:15 AM to 10:00 AM
With Navigate Progress Reporting Campaigns (PRCs), you can let NIU know which students in your class(es) are falling behind and need additional support. This session will present results data (AYs 23–25) on student response rates, grade distributions, and course-specific alert trends from AYs 23–25.
Find out the value of Progress Reporting Campaigns to you and to your students' success:
- How to respond to Progress Reporting Campaigns
- What happens after your alerts are posted in Navigate Staff
- Results data from alerts issued during prior terms
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Using the Blackboard Ultra Gradebook
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Using the new Gradebook in your Blackboard Ultra Course will save you time and make grading easier. The Gradebook in the Ultra Course View can help you more efficiently track student's performance in your course with exciting features like student profile photos, name and assignment search, and automatic zeros for past due work. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to effectively set up the Gradebook, grade assignments, record and calculate grades, and provide feedback to your students. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Protect the Integrity of Online Tests
Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
This comprehensive training webinar is intended for faculty who are interested in using LockDown Browser and/or Respondus Monitor to promote academic integrity for their online exams. The session provides a detailed demonstration of both applications, including enhancements that make Respondus Monitor even more effective and easy to use. Workshop is led by staff from Respondus. Register Now!
**ONLINE** Supporting Underprepared Students in Your Courses
Friday, January 23, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
It’s not uncommon to find students in our classes that are underprepared. Regardless of why students are underprepared, we can still help them be successful. This workshop is designed for educators to discover ways to support students through providing equitable assessments, materials, and opportunities in our classes. Together, we will discuss ways to determine students’ knowledge base and readiness level for the course. We will also discuss how to support students through collecting supplemental resources, modeling expectations, grading revisions, and creating opportunities for additional support. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** The Secret to Classroom Engagement: Everyone Has a Voice
Monday, January 26, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Active learning enhances student engagement, thinking skills, motivation, and retention. However, active learning can be counterproductive if it lacks structures to promote equitable participation and engagement. Equitable and inclusive engagement structures are crucial for the overall effectiveness of the learning experience. In this workshop, participants will explore strategies to make active learning inclusive and equitable to benefit all students. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Protect the Integrity of Online Tests
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
This comprehensive training webinar is intended for faculty who are interested in using LockDown Browser and/or Respondus Monitor to promote academic integrity for their online exams. The session provides a detailed demonstration of both applications, including enhancements that make Respondus Monitor even more effective and easy to use. Workshop is led by staff from Respondus. Register Now!
**ONLINE** Peer and AI Review for Writing and Thinking by OneHE
Wednesday, January 28, 2026 from 3:10 PM to 3:40 PM
Peer & AI Review + Reflection (PAIRR) is a curricular intervention designed to help students develop critical thinking and writing skills with peers and AI. This approach can be applied and adopted in different courses, from first-year composition classes to writing-intensive disciplinary courses like environmental science or plant science. In their webinar, Anna Mills (English Instructor, College of Marin, USA), Lisa Sperber (Lecturer, University of California, Davis), and Carl Whithaus (Director of the University Writing Program at the University of California, Davis) will guide participants through implementing the Peer & AI Review + Reflection (PAIRR) method in their own courses. This session is offered by OneHE. Register Now!
**ONLINE** LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Protect the Integrity of Online Tests
Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
This comprehensive training webinar is intended for faculty who are interested in using LockDown Browser and/or Respondus Monitor to promote academic integrity for their online exams. The session provides a detailed demonstration of both applications, including enhancements that make Respondus Monitor even more effective and easy to use. Workshop is led by staff from Respondus. Register Now!
**ONLINE** Using Blackboard Ally to Support Accessibility in Your Course
Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Blackboard Ally is a powerful tool for providing your students with more accessible content. NIU is full of diverse students with unique learning abilities, and Ally allows students more choice in a format that works best for them. The best part is that this is done automatically. In this workshop, you will discover how Blackboard Ally generates alternative formats for students to download and gives instructors feedback on how to improve their courses' accessibility. We will also discuss some other practical strategies for incorporating Universal Design for Learning principles in your course. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in the Classroom
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
As educators, our effort to support LGBTQ+ students shouldn’t begin and end with acknowledging pronouns and identifying the nearest gender-inclusive bathrooms. Even if the topic of your course doesn’t include identity, LGBTQ+ students benefit when their perspectives are taken into consideration during course development. In this workshop, we will discuss ways to support LGBTQ+ students through class policies, materials, and delivery. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Using Blackboard Effectively
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Blackboard Ultra offers a suite of advanced tools designed to elevate the teaching and learning experience. This workshop goes beyond the basics to delve into the sophisticated features of Blackboard Ultra, empowering instructors to maximize their use of the platform. Participants will explore advanced topics, which may include innovative course design techniques, the integration of AI to enhance learning, and effective strategies for assessment and grading. This workshop will provide the knowledge and skills needed to harness Blackboard Ultra's capabilities. Advanced registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** 2026 Digital Teaching & Learning (DT&L) Conference
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
The virtual 2026 Digital Teaching & Learning Conference (DT&L) on February 4-5, 2026 is centered around the theme of Designing the Future. DT&L is a free* and virtual event dedicated to showcasing innovative practices, research, and digital teaching design and strategies within postsecondary education. Instructional designers, faculty developers, and technologists working in the field of teaching and learning are encouraged to attend. As a reconceptualized event in UPCEA’s portfolio, attendees will be encouraged to share their insights, lead meaningful discussions, and connect with peers shaping the future of learning design. By eliminating the time and cost associated with travel, UPCEA will provide a superior peer-reviewed teaching and learning community event while staying true to the guiding principles of the Distance Teaching and Learning Conference (1984 - 2024). (*Free for UPCEA members; NIU is an institutional member). Register Now!
**IN PERSON** Creating Engaging Content in the Digital Media Studio
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
CITL's Digital Media Studio features two innovative technologies designed to help you create engaging and effective video presentations and require minimum training or help. The One Button Video Studio allows you to create high quality videos with studio lighting, custom backgrounds, and presentation overlays. The Lightboard can be used to create recorded videos featuring handwritten presentation content, and unlike a classroom whiteboard, the lightboard allows users to face their audience. The lightboard can also host live sessions, using Collaborate, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom. In this face-to-face workshop, you will be introduced to tools and techniques that will engage your students with dynamic video content. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Exploring Kaltura Features
Thursday, February 5, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Learn about NIU's video platform, Kaltura! This workshop will provide a broad overview of the features and functions of Kaltura and strategies for incorporating these to meet your multimedia needs. Topics covered in this introductory workshop will include uploading videos, recording webcam video, screen recording, basic editing features, and more. This workshop will also prepare you for the next series of Kaltura workshops covering more advanced features. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** What's New in Blackboard Ultra
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Blackboard releases monthly updates and improvements to Blackboard Learn Ultra. Many of these improvements can add value to your courses and improve your workflows. The What’s New in Blackboard workshop will explore newly released or improved features that can improve the user experience of students and instructors. It will consist of tutorials, discussion, and interactive exploration. Topics will vary. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Pathways of Social Impact: Current Uses at Stanford University and Utah Valley University
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
The Pathways of Social Impact framework presents a typology designed to help educators better understand and support students’ evolving civic identities and engagement strategies. Each pathway overlaps with multiple other pathways, so that activities falling in one pathway may also exist in another. The Practitioner Profiles acknowledge this interconnectivity while working to clearly articulate the knowledge, skills, and attributes from the perspective of each pathway. In this session from Campus Compact, we take a closer look at two campuses using the Pathways Framework: Stanford University and Utah Valley University. Register Now!
**ONLINE** Empowering First Generation Students, Transforming Lives
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Over half of our first-year Huskies are pioneering their family's college journey, bringing with them rich cultural wealth, diverse perspectives, and remarkable resilience. As educators, we have the extraordinary opportunity to transform these trailblazers' academic experience and create a lasting impact that reverberates across generations. In this workshop, discover how to harness the strengths and lived experiences of our first-generation students while building an inclusive learning environment where all students thrive. Together, we'll explore evidence-based strategies that empower students to take charge of their success. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Uses and Abuses of AI Agents in Education with Anna Mills
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 3:10 PM to 3:40 PM
These days, "AI agent" sometimes refers to a custom chatbot and sometimes to an agentic AI browser that will take actions on the user's behalf, like clicking and filling out forms autonomously. In this webinar, Anna Mills, English Instructor, College of Marin, USA, will clarify how students might be using agentic AI browsers to automate homework completion and what can be done about that, and will look at ways educators might consider using them to assist their teaching without jeopardizing student data. This session is offered by OneHE. Register Now!
**ONLINE** Creating a Sense of Belonging in Your Online Course
Thursday, February 12, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Help your students succeed by learning techniques and strategies to build a sense of community and belonging in your online course. In this workshop, we will discuss ways to foster communication, build interaction, and to promote inclusivity. Join us as we explore avenues to help students engage and feel connected with their online courses. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**NEW - ONLINE** Assessment for Learning Improvement Showcase: Data Storytelling
Friday, February 13, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
A picture is worth a thousand words, but what story does it tell? Data storytelling is an engaging approach to gain insights and make meaning from program level assessments of student learning. Come learn how to facilitate continuous improvement efforts by engaging in productive discussions with colleagues using story elements, data visualization, and qualitative data. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**IN-PERSON** Enriching the Design of General Education - February 2026
Friday, February 13, 2026 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
The Enriching the Design of General Education (EDGE) initiative supports excellence in general education teaching by fostering a thriving and supportive community of practice among faculty and emphasizing the unique philosophy and practices that define general education courses. This in-person brown-bag event will be informal - feel free to bring your lunch!
In this session, we will focus on teaching in each of the three knowledge domains. Join us to engage in a lively discussion with faculty who are teaching in the same knowledge domain and to compare success, challenges, and strategies for addressing the same general education outcomes from different disciplines.
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - Candice Hux (Online)
Monday, February 16, 2026 from 8:00 AM to 11:59 PM
Online Observation Anytime 2/16 - 2/20
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. This is an asynchronous online course that you will be able to access in Blackboard.
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - Kimberly Gatz
Monday, February 16, 2026 from 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. This is a general education course that is skills-based.
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - Nicole Clifton
Monday, February 16, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. Nicole Clifton is teaching a course on the Technologies of the Word; this session focuses on the history of books.
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - James Cohen
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. James Cohen is known for his inclusive teaching practices.
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - Gibson Cima
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. This session is a general education course that uses open educational resources; Gibson Cima is known for his inclusive teaching approaches.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Destigmatizing Imposter Feelings in Your Classroom: How to Take Risks and Fail Productively
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Imposter syndrome is a common feeling characterized by persistent self-doubt despite evidence of competence. It is especially prevalent among people working in a field where their gender, race, first language, or parental status makes them an obvious minority, such as women in STEM and people of color in higher education. This workshop discusses strategies that instructors can use to destigmatize imposter feelings and to acknowledge productive failures are necessary for success. Advance registration is required.
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - Nicole Clifton
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. Nicole Clifton is teaching a course on the Technologies of the Word; this session is hands-on in the BookLab.
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - Kimberly Gatz
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 from 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. This is a general education course that is skills-based.
Register Now!
**NEW - ONLINE** Ask the Expert: Book Chat with Jessamyn Neuhaus, Author of Snafu Edu
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Let’s continue the conversations launched during the Spring 2026, Teaching Effectiveness Institute, Teaching Beyond Perfection: Embracing Challenges, Inspiring Growth. Why do teaching challenges happen—and how can we handle them? Join us for an interactive conversation with Dr. Jessamyn Neuhaus, who tackles the inevitable “snafus” of higher education in her book Snafu Edu. This is your chance to ask questions, share experiences, and learn practical strategies for responding to classroom challenges with confidence and creativity. Bring your toughest teaching questions—let’s talk solutions!
In book chats, we read the book so that you don’t have to! NIU members with login credentials can access the e-book free online through the University Library. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**NEW - ONLINE** Community Engagement Brownbag: How to Create a Community Engaged Course
Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
If you're curious about how to get started teaching community engaged courses, join us on February 19, 2026 at noon, when Dr. Alicia Schatteman shares her experiences with community engaged teaching and learning at NIU. Learn about the new NIU community-engaged course designation and find out best practices to build and teach a successful community-engaged course. Register Now!
**ONLINE** Pathways of Social Impact: Current Uses at Swarthmore College
Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
The Pathways of Social Impact framework presents a typology designed to help educators better understand and support students’ evolving civic identities and engagement strategies. Each pathway overlaps with multiple other pathways, so that activities falling in one pathway may also exist in another. The Practitioner Profiles acknowledge this interconnectivity while working to clearly articulate the knowledge, skills, and attributes from the perspective of each pathway. In this session from Campus Compact, we take a closer look at a campus using the Pathways Framework: Swarthmore College. Register Now!
**ONLINE** Multimedia Accessibility
Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Is your content reaching everyone, even those who may have disabilities or challenges in their learning? In this one-hour workshop, we'll dive into the essentials of multimedia accessibility using tools available to all faculty, students, and staff at NIU. You'll learn simple, practical strategies for creating media presentations accessible for all learners. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - Rana Jaber (Online)
Monday, February 23, 2026 from 8:00 AM to 11:59 PM
Online Observation Anytime 2/22 - 2/27
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. This is an asynchronous online course that you will be able to access in Blackboard.
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - Jamie Mayer
Monday, February 23, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 10:50 AM
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. Jamie Mayer uses a multimodal approach to teaching and learning.
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - Kimberly Gatz
Monday, February 23, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. This is a general education course that is skills-based.
Register Now!
NEW **ONLINE** NAVIGATE: Midterm Progress Reporting: Help Students Stay on Track
Monday, February 23, 2026 from 2:15 PM to 3:00 PM
Help your students stay on track at midterm with a quick overview of NIU’s Midterm Progress Reports
This Navigate Learning Session will show you how to submit reports, what concerns to flag, and how your feedback triggers coordinated outreach from advising and student success teams. Identifying concerns at midterm allows NIU to re‑engage students while there’s still time for them to succeed. The session will also share key trends from prior terms to show how midterm reporting supports student progress and course completion.
Topics Included:
- How to access and complete Midterm Progress Reports in Navigate
- What concerns to report (e.g., attendance, missing work, low performance)
- What happens after your alerts are posted in Navigate Staff
- How midterm feedback drives timely outreach from advising and student success teams
- Results and insights from prior midterm campaigns, including student response patterns and alert trends
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - James Cohen
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. James Cohen is known for his inclusive teaching approaches.
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - Jamie Mayer
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 10:50 AM
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. Jamie Mayer uses a multimodal approach to teaching and learning.
Register Now!
Open Classroom Weeks - Nicole Clifton
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM
Open Classroom Weeks is a program that provides you with the opportunity to sit in on a colleague's course or a co-curricular learning event. Participating in Open Classroom Weeks is an opportunity to learn new approaches to teaching and make connections across disciplines. Unlike peer observation for tenure and promotion, the focus is on learning as opposed to critiquing. Nicole Clifton is teaching a course on the Technologies of the Word; this session is hands-on in the BookLab.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Creating Podcasts with Adobe’s AI Powered Tools
Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Adobe Podcast is an online platform which simplifies podcast creation and editing using AI-powered tools. Allowing users to record, transcribe, edit, and enhance audio directly in their browser. This makes podcasting easier by offering features like speech enhancement, text-based editing, and collaboration tools. This workshop will cover how to engage faculty and students with their educational content by leveraging audio podcasts. As part of NIU’s Adobe License, NIU faculty, staff, and students now have access to the Adobe Podcast online tools. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Blackboard Communication Tools
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Communication is a critical element of a successful course, and Blackboard Ultra Course View has a wealth of tools to facilitate building community, encouraging academic discussion, and fostering interaction with and between your students. In this session, you will be introduced to the asynchronous and synchronous tools available in the Blackboard Ultra Course View, including discussions, announcements, conversations, messages and web conferencing. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Supporting Neurodiverse Students in the Classroom
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
The number of students diagnosed with neurodivergent conditions has increased significantly in the last decade, which means that traditional methods of teaching and grading may not be the most effective ways for students to learn. This workshop is designed for educators to enhance their understanding of neurodiversity and learn practical skills that will help create an inclusive learning environment for neurodiverse students. Together, we will think critically about the varying needs of neurodiverse students and how we can create environments that support their learning instead of overlooking or punishing them. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Using Blackboard Ally to Support Accessibility in Your Course
Thursday, March 5, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Blackboard Ally is a powerful tool for providing your students with more accessible content. NIU is full of diverse students with unique learning abilities, and Ally allows students more choice in a format that works best for them. The best part is that this is done automatically. In this workshop, you will discover how Blackboard Ally generates alternative formats for students to download and gives instructors feedback on how to improve their courses' accessibility. We will also discuss some other practical strategies for incorporating Universal Design for Learning principles in your course. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**IN-PERSON** Enriching the Design of General Education - March 2026
Friday, March 6, 2026 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
The Enriching the Design of General Education (EDGE) initiative supports excellence in general education teaching by fostering a thriving and supportive community of practice among faculty and emphasizing the unique philosophy and practices that define general education courses. This in-person brown-bag event will be informal - feel free to bring your lunch!
General education courses provide opportunities for innovation at every turn including exciting topics, bold approaches to teaching, and unexpected perspectives on learning. This session will feature a panel of faculty who have taken new and fascinating approaches to teaching general education courses.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Teaching Digital Literacy with Adobe Express: Memes
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Explore Adobe Express, a versatile digital design tool now available to all NIU faculty, staff, and students. This all-in-one solution covers image generation, photo and video editing, web design, posters, presentations, animations, and more, enhanced by generative AI. With hundreds of templates to inspire creativity, Adobe Express addresses the need for accessible digital tools in education. In this hands-on workshop, participants will investigate the use of memes in education and learn how to create memes easily using the tools in Adobe Express. Advanced registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Improving PDF Accessibility
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
PDFs are everywhere in our courses, but too often they create hidden barriers for students who use screen readers or other assistive technologies. The good news is that a few simple fixes can make a big difference. In this workshop, we’ll explore easy, practical steps you can take with the tools you already have to improve PDF accessibility. You’ll learn how to check if your PDFs are readable, add tags, adjust reading order, and include headings and alt text. Join us to discover how small changes now can help ensure all students can fully engage with your course materials. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Inclusive Group Work: Fostering Teamwork among Diverse Identities
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Collaborating effectively is an essential skill for achieving success in the workplace. Collaborative projects help students develop important interpersonal skills, such as communication and conflict resolution. Nevertheless, some students may feel uneasy working alongside others who have different backgrounds and perspectives. To foster trust and establish belonging, students need to comprehend their role within the group and how they can contribute to achieving its goals. This workshop will help you identify the characteristics of inclusive and collaborative group assignments and examine fair, equitable grading practices for group projects. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Energizing Minds: Strategies for Boosting Cognitive Engagement in the Classroom
Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Cognitive engagement is the mental effort students invest in mastering content, creating an inspiring and dynamic classroom. It embodies perseverance, reflection, and sharing insights that ignite a passion for learning. Join our workshop to discover techniques that enhance cognitive engagement and build a vibrant classroom community. Secure your spot today and inspire your students to reach their full potential! Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Best Practices for Synchronous Online Sessions
Monday, March 23, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Discover strategies to create engaging and effective synchronous online course sessions. Learn new ways to facilitate active learning, foster student interactions, and manage the unique dynamics of real-time online instruction. By the end of this session, you’ll feel prepared to design and deliver synchronous sessions that promote deeper student engagement and collaboration. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Improving Accessibility in Microsoft Word
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Ensure every student can fully engage with your course materials. In this hands-on workshop, you'll explore practical strategies for making Word documents accessible to all learners, including those who use screen readers. By the end of the session, you'll be able to use Word’s built-in Accessibility Checker effectively and apply best practices for formatting and designing documents. Join us to enhance your document design skills and create a more inclusive learning environment for everyone. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Teaching Multilingual Learners: Lowering Barriers to Success
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
In a globalized higher education system, institutions must support multilingual learners by addressing language barriers and unfamiliar academic norms. This workshop aims to help educators support multilingual learners by addressing cultural nuances and language barriers. It will cover strategies for success, including instructional techniques and the use of digital literacy and AI for inclusion. Additionally, the workshop will discuss ethical considerations and challenges of using AI and technology to democratize English for multilingual learners. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Media Management Strategies
Thursday, March 26, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Discover best practices for storing and backing up your valuable media files, and don't let a technical glitch erase your hard work. How you store and back up your media files is an important digital literacy skillset. In this workshop, you will learn strategies to organize, secure, and preserve your digital content. We'll explore efficient file management techniques, compare cloud and local storage options, and provide hands-on demonstrations. You'll also gain insights into NIU's file storage and retention policies. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Motivating Students to Engage with Assigned Readings
Monday, March 30, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
It's a common challenge: students often come to class without having completed the assigned readings, which can limit their ability to fully engage in discussion and activities. In this workshop, we will discuss ways to encourage students to read through activities, differing modalities, and methods of accountability. Whether you teach a reading-intensive course or incorporate reading as part of a broader curriculum, this workshop will offer strategies to help motivate students to complete their assigned readings and engage more deeply with course materials. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Technology Driven Formative Assessment
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Formative assessment is a planned, ongoing process used to gather evidence of student understanding and progress. Its primary goal is to inform instruction and improve student learning outcomes by identifying areas where students struggle and adjusting teaching strategies accordingly. In this session, we will explore how digital tools from Blackboard, Kaltura, Adobe, and Microsoft can help you gauge student understanding in real-time. Join us to explore innovative ways to check student comprehension, foster engagement, and tailor your instruction to meet diverse learning needs. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**IN-PERSON** Enriching the Design of General Education - April 2026
Friday, April 3, 2026 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
The Enriching the Design of General Education (EDGE) initiative supports excellence in general education teaching by fostering a thriving and supportive community of practice among faculty and emphasizing the unique philosophy and practices that define general education courses. This in-person brown-bag event will be informal - feel free to bring your lunch!
Don't miss this exciting session!
Register Now!
**NEW - ONLINE** Community Engagement Brownbag: Engaged Classrooms, Stronger Research: Expanding Faculty Capacity Through Teaching
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Discover how Professor Melani Duffrin integrates research and teaching — two pillars often viewed separately in academia. Over the lunch hour, we’ll explore how experiential learning can transform your research capacity while providing invaluable experiences for students. This approach not only enhances student learning but also expands your research capabilities, diversifies funding sources and brings fresh perspectives to your work. Register Now!
**ONLINE** Pathways of Social Impact: Theoretical, Empirical, and Critical Reflections
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
The Pathways of Social Impact framework presents a typology designed to help educators better understand and support students’ evolving civic identities and engagement strategies. Each pathway overlaps with multiple other pathways, so that activities falling in one pathway may also exist in another. The Practitioner Profiles acknowledge this interconnectivity while working to clearly articulate the knowledge, skills, and attributes from the perspective of each pathway. In this session from Campus Compact, we reflect on the theoretical, empirical, and critical implications of the pathways framework. Register Now!
