**ONLINE** NAVIGATE New Users Introduction to Navigate's Functions
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 from 9:15 AM to 10:00 AM
In this virtual session, participants will learn Navigate360 Staff's core features, including text messaging, issuing alerts, and Student Searches. We'll also highlight how students use Study Buddies to engage outside of your class(es)
- Messaging (text and email)
Connect with students to instill a sense of care and belonging. Participants will have hands-on experience with sending a text and an email to the facilitator through Navigate.
- Alerts & Referrals
Identify students in need of additional support and connect them with their care team. Participants will create a plan for when to issue ad hoc alerts for students and plan when to issue the alerts for their classes based on their syllabi.
- Student Searches
Identify students for potential academic recruitment outreach, scholarship promotion, research fellows, etc. Participants will be able to (1) Conduct a student search in Navigate to identify students assigned to them who meet specific criteria and (2) Create a saved search to be used as a template to build additional searches.
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**ONLINE** Designing an Accessible Syllabus
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
The course syllabus is an essential component of your course and should be precise, clear and accessible. A syllabus is often the first means of communication between you and all your students. A well-designed, accessible syllabus follows Universal Design Principles for Learning and benefits all students. In this workshop, you will be provided with tools to help you create a well-organized and accessible course syllabus. Advance registration required.
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**HYBRID** Teaching with Classroom Technology - LaTourette Hall 200
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
In this workshop, staff from the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning will demonstrate using classroom technology for presenting, streaming, and recording your class sessions. The workshop will be held in-person and livestreamed. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Protect the Integrity of Online Tests
Wednesday, January 7, 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** Spring 2026 Teaching Effectiveness Institute - Teaching Beyond Perfection: Embracing Challenges, Inspiring Growth
Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Ever had a class where the tech failed, an activity flopped, or your students looked utterly lost?? You're not alone - and that's the point. Teaching is a journey, not a performance. Join us in embracing imperfection as a catalyst for growth through a keynote by Dr. Jessamyn Neuhaus and dynamic sessions with NIU Faculty Teaching Mentors - empowering educators to build resilience, spark innovation, and create thriving teaching communities. Learn more at citl.niu.edu/spring-tei.
Register Now!
**HYBRID** Teaching with Classroom Technology - DuSable 206
Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
In this workshop, staff from the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning will demonstrate using classroom technology for presenting, streaming, and recording your class sessions. The workshop will be held in-person and livestreamed. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Strategies for Enhancing Instructor Presence in an Online Classroom
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Building community and a sense of connection in your courses can influence your students' success. One way to help your students feel a sense of connection to you and your content is to build instructor presence in your course. Whether you teach face-to-face, online, or in hybrid modalities, this workshop explores strategies to help you improve student performance and engagement by boosting communication and building strong relationships. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Using VoiceThread in Blackboard
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
In this workshop, you will learn how to create VoiceThreads and then add them to your Blackboard course as lessons, discussions, or assessments. This will be a hand-on workshop where you can follow along with the activities and add VoiceThreads into your course modules. This session is led by VoiceThread staff. Register Now!
**ONLINE** LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Protect the Integrity of Online Tests
Tuesday, January 13, 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** Book Chat: 33 Simple Strategies for Faculty: A Week-by-Week Resource for Teaching First-Year and First-Generation Students
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
In book chats, we read the book so that you don’t have to! This award-winning book offers thirty-three strategies for faculty to support first-generation college students in their transition to university. Drawing on student insights and research, Lisa Nunn shows how professors can significantly impact student success by dedicating just fifteen minutes a week. Join us for a discussion about the book. NIU members with login credentials can access the e-book free online through the University Library. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra
Thursday, January 15, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Blackboard Ultra Course View is modern and intuitive with streamlined workflows to improve your efficiency. If you are new to Ultra Course View, there are several ways to get started, including using CITL pre-built templates. In this online workshop, we will discuss practical strategies for building your course in Ultra Course View. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**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** 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** NAVIGATE Progress Reporting Campaigns: What's their Value and What Happens Next?
Thursday, January 22, 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** 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** 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!
**IN-PERSON** Enriching the Design of General Education - February 2026
Friday, February 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!
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!
**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!
**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!
**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!
**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!
