Laura Ruth Johnson’s search for local knowledge from the direct source – the people who live those realities and the grassroots organizations they populate – has taken her from Chicago to Puerto Rico to Taiwan and beyond. Johnson’s community-based research serves to
Read moreCOE recognizes administrative professionals
Wednesday is Administrative Professionals Day. Our amazing administrative professionals in the College of Education are the can’t-live-without glue that hold our offices and departments together. And while we’re all away, unable to thank or five-high them in person, they continue to serve
Read moreGrad students modify Chicago research to address host site’s COVID-19 concerns
During this strange era of COVID-19, the adage about “the best-laid plans” has proven itself more than a cliché. For Dean Laurie Elish-Piper and Laura Ruth Johnson, an associate professor in the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment, their work that
Read moreAdvisors shift to virtual practice
Our advisors are doing a wonderful job of staying connected with NIU College of Education students during this difficult time. David Snow, director of Student Services, reports that Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education academic advisor Joe Curran “created his own Teams
Read moreYanghee Kim assists UNESCO efforts to prepare children for future world
That the world is changing rapidly comes as no surprise to anyone who’s dialed a rotary phone attached to a wall or wearily rose from a comfortable couch to change the channel. But the relentless and breakneck pace at which technology is
Read moreLaura Ruth Johnson travels to Taiwan to see community research in action
Some of the world’s greatest wisdom is stored only in the minds of people who’ve inherited this information from the generations that have come before them. However, much traditional research overlooks this grassroots knowledge and expertise in favor of “scientific” knowledge gathered
Read moreTech leaders discuss cyber challenges, benefits at Community Learning Series
Panelists at the NIU College of Education’s Fall 2019 Community Learning Series on cybersecurity could not have been clearer. We are under constant attack, to the tune of 1,500 malicious acts every minute. The attackers are well-financed, heavily resourced and, unfortunately, always
Read moreCommunity Learning Series will explore cybersecurity during Nov. 5 discussion
Despite the constant pleas to “put down those phones,” technology has become almost inescapable. “Technology is a part of our lives, and we’re using our technology on a daily basis,” says Wei-Chen Hung, chair of the Department of Educational Technology, Research and
Read moreLoyal Huskie R.J. Gravel thrives in career, embodies ‘definition of lifelong learning’
Growing up in suburban Des Plaines, R.J. Gravel wanted to live a life in song. He enrolled at NIU in the fall of 2001 to major in music education and vocal performance, but something happened before classes began in August that would
Read moreLearn-IT explores future of teaching tech
Science fiction fans call May 4 “Star Wars Day” – as in, “May the Fourth Be With You” – but that particular Saturday this year centered on science reality for 120 regional teachers and instructional technology specialists. NIU’s Department of Educational Technology,
Read moreETRA graduate students join Fatih Demir to research brain engagement of readers
Researchers in NIU’s Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment are preparing to study whether – and how – readers respond differently to “hard” news reports and emotional stories. Fatih Demir, an assistant professor of Instructional Technology, will use eye-tracking systems and
Read moreSteve Builta departs for new challenges training, coordinating disaster responders
Three months after his 1984 graduation from Hononegah High School, Steve Builta arrived at NIU with plans to become a school psychologist. Even though he had enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where he eventually would earn a bachelor’s
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