Celebrate our 25th Anniversary!
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning at Northern Illinois University. Join us as we celebrate this milestone and 25 years of supporting excellence in teaching and learning at NIU!
History and Evolution of the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL)
Founded in the 1980s as the Faculty Development Office at Northern Illinois University (NIU), our center underwent significant reorganization in August 1998. Renamed the Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center, our mission expanded to offer comprehensive support in teaching effectiveness, technology integration, and faculty development grants with a dedicated team of four members.
In 2000, we began providing training and support for the Blackboard web course management system, and by 2002, we also took on the responsibility of supporting graduate teaching assistant development.
Teaching with Technology
CITL has always promoted integrating technology in teaching, but that technology has changed a great deal in 25 years!
Photo from 2002 Teaching Effectiveness Institute
eLearning Services
ELearning Services were also long-standing advocates of innovative strategies for teaching and learning.
Photo from 2002 Learning Technology Showcase
Commitment to Accessibility
Since the beginning, we have promoted accessibility of teaching and learning and were recognized with the NIU John Clogston Spirit Award in 2003.
Photo from 2003 recognition
In 2018, we merged with the eLearning Services instructional design team, evolving into a full-service center. This expansion included relocating to the building formerly known as the Academic Advising Center. Our broadened focus allowed us to support faculty, instructors, and graduate teaching assistants with enhanced services in teaching, technology integration, and instructional design.
The center’s name was changed to the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) in 2020, reflecting our commitment to fostering effective and innovative teaching methods that contribute to transformative learning experiences.
Blackboard LMS
Since 1999, CITL has supported NIU's Blackboard LMS by providing workshops, consultations, and pedagogical best practices as it has grown from a few users to a critical teaching tool.
Digital Media Studio
Opened in 2020, CITL’s Digital Media Studio provides NIU faculty with access to easy-to-use, high-quality video equipment, including the One Button Video Studio and Lightboard Studio.
The Office of Online Learning
CITL’s Office of Online Learning was founded in 2023 and supports NIU’s online students from initial inquiry to graduation, ensuring their success and enhancing their learning experience.
In 2023, we established the Office of Online Learning within CITL. This addition supports the entire journey of NIU’s adult online students—from initial inquiry and application to graduation—ensuring their success and enriching their online learning experience.
Today, CITL continues to provide comprehensive services dedicated to excellence in teaching and learning, supporting our academic community with cutting-edge resources and innovative solutions.
For more details see Our History.