**ONLINE** LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Protect the Integrity of Online Tests
Tuesday, August 4, 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** Perusall - See What's New: Checkpoints, Context, Easy Grouping & More - Summer 2026
Wednesday, August 5, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
We've added new features and updates to Perusall — and we want to show you exactly what that means for your courses.
Join CTO & Co-founder Brian Lukoff for a live walkthrough of four new features now available in Perusall:
Checkpoints, Context, Easy Grouping, and our new SOC 2 Type 2
certification.
In this live webinar, you'll learn how to:
- Guide students through video, podcast, and text content with interactive Checkpoints
- Set clear learning objectives so students always know what they're working toward
- Automatically set up and distribute student groups in seconds
- & more!
Can't make it live? Register anyway and we'll send you a recording. Workshop is presented by Perusall. Register Now!
**ONLINE** Coffee Chat | Accessibility Deadline Delayed: Don’t Take Your Foot Off the Gas
Thursday, August 6, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
The DOJ accessibility rule has created new urgency across higher education, but many institutions have been building accessibility programs for years. Join colleagues for an informal conversation about maintaining momentum, sharing lessons learned, and preparing for what's ahead. (*Free for UPCEA members; NIU is an institutional member). Register Now!
**ONLINE** Connecting with Remote Students: Using MS Education for Online Meetings and More
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Connecting with your students remotely is a great way to extend your reach and engagement with them. Whether you are teaching fulling online, hybrid, or using virtual meetings for office hours, you will want to have confidence using these new tools in your course. This workshop will cover adding Microsoft Education to your course, and you will learn to integrate Meetings, Teams, and Class Notebooks in courses. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Protect the Integrity of Online Tests
Wednesday, August 12, 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** “Use Tomorrow” Strategies for Supporting Neurodivergent Students
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 from 3:10 PM to 3:40 PM
Looking for simple, effective ways to better support neurodivergent students in your courses? Jennifer Pusateri will share practical, ready-to-use strategies from her new book that can help instructors clarify expectations, improve student engagement, and foster success for neurodivergent learners. This session is offered by OneHE. Register Now!
Fall 2026 Teaching Effectiveness Institute - Designing for Access: UDL, Accessibility, and Inclusive Course Design
Thursday, August 13, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Accessibility at NIU is more than compliance—it reflects a core commitment to inclusive excellence and student success. By intentionally designing courses that anticipate and remove barriers, we create learning environments where all students, regardless of ability, background, or learning preference, can fully engage and thrive.
This interactive institute explores how accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) work together to support effective, student‑centered teaching. You will examine practical approaches that make learning more flexible, engaging, and equitable for everyone. Learn more at citl.niu.edu/fall-tei
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Designing an Accessible Syllabus
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 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 of 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.
Register Now!
**HYBRID** Teaching with Classroom Technology - Faraday 143
Wednesday, August 19, 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** Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
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** Teaching the First Day of Class
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Whether you have been teaching for years or are about to teach your very first semester, being prepared for the first day of class takes planning. No matter how hard you try to find your course notes from last semester, discover a new technique to remember your students’ names, or begin using a new technology in the classroom, careful planning for the first day is critical to making a positive initial impression on your students (and making you feel good about the class, too). Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** What's New in Blackboard Ultra
Thursday, August 20, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
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** LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Protect the Integrity of Online Tests
Thursday, August 20, 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!
**HYBRID** Teaching with Classroom Technology - DuSable TBD
Thursday, August 20, 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** Get Started with Perusall
Monday, August 24, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Brian Lukoff, Perusall Co-founder, Chief Technology
Officer, and Assistant Professor of Instruction at the McCombs School of
Business at the University of Texas at Austin, will walk
through our recommended course setup strategies, helpful features
configurations, and best practices for creating engaging learning
experiences for your students. He will also demonstrate several of our
newest features, explain how they fit into your teaching, and provide
practical guidance to help you confidently prepare your course for the
semester ahead.
This is the perfect session to build the
foundation for your course, explore new features, and begin the Academy
series with insights from one of our amazing founders and a fellow
educator!
Can't join live? Register anyway and we'll send you the recording and the Perusall sandbox course. Workshop is presented by Perusall. Register Now!
**ONLINE** Equitable Grading: Reducing Bias and Increasing Student Success
Monday, August 24, 2026 from 3:00 PM to 4:00 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!
**NEW - ONLINE** Enhancing Student Engagement in Microsoft Teams
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Discover practical strategies for creating interactive and engaging learning experiences using Microsoft Teams. This workshop explores features and tools that promote communication, group collaboration, and active participation. Whether you're new to Microsoft Teams or looking to enhance your online teaching, you'll learn both instructional strategies and technology tips to help you foster student engagement. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**NEW - ONLINE** Using the Blackboard Ultra Gradebook
Wednesday, August 26, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Blackboard overhauled the Gradebook Grid View in early August. The layout and navigation have changed and the new Grade Details panel was introduced. This workshop will review changes to the Gradebook, and users will learn how to effectively set up the Gradebook, grade assignments, record and calculate grades, and provide feedback to students. Advance registration required
Register Now!
**ONLINE** Captioning: Moving Beyond Automated Captions
Thursday, August 27, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Captions and transcripts are essential for making videos and other multimedia accessible to a broad audience, including deaf and hard‑of‑hearing users, multilingual learners, and anyone accessing content in sound‑limited environments. In this workshop, you will learn why accurate captions matter, common captioning pitfalls, and practical strategies for captioning videos and multimedia content effectively. Advance registration required.
Register Now!
**ONLINE** LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor: Protect the Integrity of Online Tests
Thursday, August 27, 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** EDUCAUSE Demo Day | AI Teaching and Learning Tools
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Artificial intelligence is reshaping teaching and learning by
enabling new approaches to course content creation, student support,
assessment, and instructional design. As institutions advance their
digital and academic strategies, AI‑enabled tools are increasingly being
used to support faculty innovation, personalize learning experiences,
and improve student outcomes, all while maintaining alignment with
pedagogical goals and institutional values.
Join us for a series of engaging live sessions exploring how
AI‑powered teaching and learning solutions are being implemented across
higher education. Attendees will see live demonstrations, learn about
implementation considerations, and hear how to use AII to enhance
instructional effectiveness, support student success, and strengthen
teaching and learning ecosystems.
This session is led by EDUCAUSE; NIU faculty, staff, and students can create an EDUCAUSE account using their NIU email address to attend at no cost. Register Now!
**ONLINE** Illinois Online Higher Education Symposium
Friday, November 6, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Join colleagues from across the state of Illinois for the 2026 Illinois Online Higher Education Symposium! This free, one-day virtual conference brings together thought leaders and practitioners with expertise in online teaching and learning to discuss the latest trends in online learning--from pedagogy to technology. All who learn, teach, develop, support, or administer online education are welcome! Learn More and Register Now!
