Hal Hinderliter, an instructor in the Department of Learning Innovation, Leadership and Technology, received a 2026 Blackboard Exemplary Course Award for ETRA 502: Technology and Assessment for Elementary and Middle Level Education.
Blackboard’s Exemplary Course Program honors faculty and instructional designers for exceptional course design.
This prestigious award is based on the Anthology Exemplary Course Rubric, which highlights key characteristics of high-quality courses within the framework of course design; interaction and collaboration; assessment; and learner support.
NIU is dedicated to “delivering high-quality educational experiences, setting a standard for institutions worldwide,” wrote Lisa Clark, associate vice president of Academic Transformation.
“Hal’s remarkable contributions have enriched Northern Illinois University’s academic environment, providing an exemplary learning experience through the innovative use of Blackboard,” Clark wrote, calling such work “instrumental in shaping the future of education” and standing “as a testament to excellence in course design.”
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Lynn Gibson, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Learning Innovation, Leadership and Technology, and her son, Bryn Sheedy Gibson, have published the third installment in their children’s book series.
“Elfie the Owl and the Little Star’s Big Journey: A Tiny Hero’s Tale” teaches young readers how tiny heroes can make a difference.
The story centers around a tiny Elf Owl named Elfie as she and her best friends help a tiny twinkling star find her way back home. She learns that, despite her tiny size, she is able to achieve mighty things.
“Our stories are built on the bond we share, each page a reflection of our love for adventure, laughter, learning and imagination. Writing together as mother and son, we hope to inspire young hearts to dream big and embrace the magic of storytelling,” Lynn Sheedy Gibson said of the family writing team. “This book is dedicated to my six children to thank them for teaching me that there truly is magic in the world.”
The book includes a maze that children can use to help Nova, the tiny star, find her way home.
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College of Education alum Bradley Blair, a current doctoral student in Educational Psychology in the Department of Learning Innovation, Leadership and Technology, is among the honorees of the American Foundation for the Blind’s 2026-2027 AFB Scholars Program.
Supported through the Lulu J. Alonso Scholarship Fund, the program invests in students who are blind or have low vision as they pursue higher education and prepare to become leaders in their fields.
Now in its second year, the AFB Scholars Program continues to expand opportunities for students who are blind or have low vision to pursue higher education while building networks, gaining mentorship, and preparing for future success.
Blair, a former participant in AFB’s Blind Leaders Development Program, has published scholarly work on blindness-related topics; served on state and international boards of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired; and regularly contributes to the field as a peer reviewer for leading blindness and visual impairment journals, including AFB’s Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness.
He earned his M.S.Ed. in Special Education: Vision Studies from NIU in 2021.
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