1. Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning
  2. Learning Technologies
  3. Online Learning Tool Review
  4. About

About the Online Learning Tool Review

NIU is conducting a review during the 2025-2026 academic year of three enterprise online learning tools currently integrated with Blackboard. All three contracts are set to expire in summer 2026. The Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning (CITL) has convened a working group to evaluate usage, impact, and costs and to recommend whether to renew, replace, or retire each tool.

Why this matters: We want to ensure the tools we fund meaningfully support teaching, learning, community, and assessment integrity—and that resources are allocated where they deliver the greatest benefit for students and instructors.

Online Learning Tool Review: Spring 2026 Results

The Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL) has completed the 2025-2026 online learning tool review process. This initiative evaluated the effectiveness and usage of tools integrated within Blackboard to ensure they continued to meet the needs of NIU faculty and students.

  • Review summaries for each tool under review (Respondus, VoiceThread, and Yellowdig) are now available and provide a concise synthesis of usage patterns, strengths, challenges, and recommendations.
  • Faculty survey results for each tool have been analyzed and published, including visual summaries and key themes from campus-wide feedback.
  • Three years of usage data have been compiled for each Blackboard-integrated tool and informed the published summaries.

Summary of Outcome

    Respondus will be renewed with no changes.
    VoiceThread will be renewed for 1 year with reduced users; faculty will need to complete a request form to use it for Summer 2026 and beyond.
    Yellowdig will be renewed for 3 years with reduced users; access will not be restricted, but faculty are encouraged to only adopt Yellowdig for student-driven, ongoing learning communities.

Review summaries, faculty survey findings, and full results for each tool are now available on the Online Learning Tool Review website. View the published summaries and results »

Last updated: April 6, 2026

Tools Under Consideration

  • Yellowdig (Discussion Communities): A social, community-based discussion platform designed to foster authentic interaction, ongoing conversation, and a sense of belonging.
  • VoiceThread (Interactive Lectures): A multimedia presentation tool that enables audio, video, and text commentary around slides to support asynchronous discussion.
  • Respondus (LockDown Browser & Monitor): Assessment security tools that lock down the testing environment and support academic integrity during online exams.

Goals of the Review

  • Evidence-based decisions: Determine whether each tool’s outcomes justify its cost.
  • Student-centered investment: Prioritize tools that enhance learning, engagement, and equitable access.
  • Instructor support: Confirm that adopted tools are well-supported, sustainable, and accompanied by clear guidance and training.
  • Transparent process: Share updates and invite feedback throughout the review.

Timeline (Academic Year 2025-2026)

 
 
 
 
 

Fall 2025

  • Launch review; communicate scope and process.
  • Begin data collection (usage analytics, surveys, focus groups).
  • Map academic/technical dependencies and teaching workflows.
 
 
 
 
 

Winter 2025–Spring 2026

  • Synthesize findings; explore alternatives if warranted.
  • University community consultation and cost modeling with budget planning for 2026–2027.
  • Draft recommendations and transition scenarios (if changes are advised).
 
 
 
 
 

Late Spring–Summer 2026

  • Finalize decisions; announce outcomes.
  • If needed, begin transition planning, training, and course update support.

Dates reflect contract expirations in Summer 2026 and budget planning for 2026–2027.

How We're Evaluating

Data Analytics

  • Institutional usage reports (courses, enrollments, activity).
  • Trend analysis across colleges, departments, and modalities.

Teaching and Learning Evidence

  • Faculty and TA surveys, interviews, and use-case inventories.
  • Student surveys on engagement, accessibility, and experience.
  • Artifact review (sample activities, rubrics, outcomes alignment).

Cost and Risks

  • Total cost of ownership (licensing, support, training).
  • Accessibility, privacy, and security considerations.
  • Vendor sustainability and roadmap fit.

Alternatives and Transitions

  • Fit with Blackboard and NIU-supported tools.
  • Availability of lower-cost or better-fit alternatives.
  • Feasibility of migration and change-management needs.

What Faculty Can Do Now

  • Share your experience: Tell us how you use Yellowdig, VoiceThread, or Respondus and what impact they’ve had on student learning and community.
  • Flag dependencies: Let us know if key course activities or assessments rely on these tools.
  • Plan for flexibility: If a tool changes, we’ll provide support—start noting potential alternatives or course adjustments you might consider.

Participate and Provide Feedback

  • Get involved: Watch for forthcoming opportunities to describe how you uses these tools, what works well, and what doesn't.
  • Join an info session: Watch for invitations to demos, Q&A, and feedback sessions throughout Fall and Spring.
  • Email us: Send an email to citl@niu.edu.

Accessibility and Privacy

NIU is committed to accessible, secure, and privacy-respecting technology. As part of this review, each tool’s accessibility conformance, data handling, and security posture are considered alongside teaching impact and cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will any tools be removed?

No decisions have been made yet. We’ll share recommendations in early Spring 2026. If changes are approved, we will support transitions with training, templates, and migration guidance.

How will my course be affected?

If your course uses one of the reviewed tools and a change is recommended, CITL will provide concrete alternatives, transition timelines, and hands-on support.

What evidence will inform decisions?

A combination of usage analytics, student and instructor feedback, accessibility and security review, cost modeling, and alignment with teaching and learning outcomes.

Contact Us

Center for Innovative
Teaching and Learning

Phone: 815-753-0595
Email: citl@niu.edu