Enriching the Design of General Education (EDGE) Toolkit
The general education program at NIU is embedded in our core values of inclusion and respect, curiosity and creativity, ethics and integrity, and service and stewardship. It is built on three fundamental purposes:
- Skills - developing foundational, transferable skills and career-ready competencies, including critical thinking, teamwork, analytical skills, and expressive abilities.
- Knowledge - developing basic knowledge and broader insights about the world around us, including how individuals fit into that world and what individuals can do to address complex issues.
- Exploration - unleashing students' curiosity beyond their major to identify and address issues from multiple perspectives.
This toolkit is part of the Enriching the Design of General Education (EDGE) pilot initiative that fosters a thriving and supportive community of practice among faculty and emphasizes the unique philosophy and practices that define general education courses.
General Education Information
Teaching Resources
Learner-Centered Syllabus Design Guide
Find tips for creating a syllabus that outlines how students can be successful in your course.
Starting Strong in the First Week
Make a positive initial impression and pique your students curiosity in the subject matter.
Active Learning Activities
See examples of individual or small group activities that can be used in any classroom to engage students.
Classroom Assessment Techniques
Learn about a few of the more commonly used classroom assessment techniques.
Supporting Underprepared Students
See tips for creating class environments to help your students succeed, whatever their starting point may be.
Teaching First-Generation College Students
Find inspiration and evidence-based high-impact teaching practices that support the success of first-generation students in the classroom.
Brown Bag Meetings
All EDGE meetings are held from 12:30 - 1:30 PM, and will be in-person. Feel free to bring your lunch!
Fall 2025
To kick-off the second year of EDGE, Alicia Schatteman (Vice Provost for Academic Affairs) will provide an overview of the principles and structure of NIU's General Education program. Amy Buhrow (Associate Vice Provost for Assessment and Accreditation) will share the results from the first year of general education assessment in foundational studies courses.
Embedding career readiness skills into general education courses equips students with the essential competencies they need to thrive in today’s dynamic workforce. In this session, Andrea Radasanu, Assistant Vice Provost for Student Enhancement, will provide insight into new tools and strategies available from Career Services can support student career readiness. We will also discuss how you can highlight the ways you already address key career competencies like communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and technology in your courses to help students translate that work into future career success.
AI is already shaping how students learn, work, and interact with the world—so how can we help them build the skills to use it thoughtfully? In this conversation, we’ll explore ways to bring AI literacy into general education courses, helping students think critically, ask good questions, and prepare for a future where AI is part of nearly every career path.
Spring 2026
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.
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.
Don't miss this exciting session!
Recordings of Past Sessions
- September 2024 - Inclusive Teaching in General Education
- November 2024 - GenEd Assessment Design for COMS 100 and MATH 155, 211, and 229
- January 2025 - Spring 2025 Kick-Off
- February 2025 - Student Affairs & Student Support
- March 2025 - Teaching General Education Honors Courses
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Teaching Support
CITL staff are available to answer your teaching questions. Give us a call at 815-753-0595 or email citl@niu.edu for assistance. You can also schedule an appointment with one of our staff.
View CITL upcoming events to view available upcoming workshops offered or to register.