Rob Piercy
Senior Instructional Designer
Responsibilities
Rob collaborates with faculty and staff in the design, development, and management of online courses and learning experiences, applying various learning theories, teaching strategies, instructional design models, best practices in online education, and integrating educational technologies to improve teaching effectiveness and student learning experiences. He implements and maintains quality standards across all aspects of the instructional design process.
Education
- Ph.D., Instructional Technology, Northern Illinois University, in progress
- MS.Ed., Instructional Technology, Northern Illinois University, 2014
- M.A., Secondary Education and Teaching, Roosevelt University, 1999
- B.S., Criminal Justice and Corrections, Illinois State University, 1992
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CITL Staff Ambassador for the Ultra Transition Academy (UTA), 2022-2023
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Quality Matters, Peer Reviewer, 2019
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Quality Matters, Applying the QM Rubric, 2019
- Adobe Education Institute Fellow, 2024
- Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals from IBM SkillsBuild, 2024
- Create High-Fidelity Designs and Prototypes in Figma from Google, 2024
- Conduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts from Google, 2024
- Build Wireframes and Low-Fidelity Prototypes from Google, 2023
- Adobe Express in the Classroom from Adobe, 2023
- Foundation of User Experience (UX) Design from Google, 2023
- Generative AI in the Classroom from Adobe, 2023
- Introduction to Generative AI from Google, 2023
- Start the UX Design Process, Empathize, Define, and Ideate from Google, 2023
- Blackboard Course Exemplar Reviewer, 2022
- Google Project Management Certificate from Google, 2022
- Essentials in Project Management from CertWise by Holmes Corporation, 2020
- VoiceThread Certification by VoiceThread, 2019
- National Board Certified Teacher, Skills: Secondary Education Social Studies, Issued Nov 2008 - Expired Nov 2018
Applause
The following comments from NIU faculty were shared through NIU Today Applaud a Colleague:
"Rob has helped me tremendously with revising my online course. His creativity, support and knowledge of Blackboard have significantly improved the course. I am so grateful for his insight and willingness to brainstorm how to improve the course." (June 26, 2025)
"Rob has gone above and beyond in helping me create the best possible online offerings for my students! He is always timely and professional in answering my many questions. Thanks, Rob!" (November 10, 2020)
"You are the best, Rob. My 22-year-old son was in the room while we worked together. Afterwards he said he liked how you helped me without making me feel foolish. You have a gift!" (June 10, 2020)
