With a background in computer engineering, Mobin Hossein Panahi brings coding and programming skills to his pursuit of an M.S.Ed. in Instructional Technology at NIU. But can Panahi equip a “social robot” to not only employ AI to respond to spoken questions
Read moreWei-Chen Hung celebrates NSF grant powering study of innovative pedagogy to boost preparation of STEM teachers
Wei-Chen Hung is among the recipients of a $2 million grant-funded project toward “Examining the Application of the IFLIP Pedagogy in STEM and Pre-service Science and Math Teacher Education by Institutional Context.” The dollars from the National Science Foundation’s Institutional and Community
Read moreBSAM-ITTE alum Ray Schaefer donates 14 virtual reality headsets to alma mater
A 2023 alumnus of the College of Education’s B.S.A.M. in Instructional Technology degree has honored his alma mater with a gift of Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headsets and a large cleaning unit. The donation from Ray Schaefer, who works in global
Read moreEd.D. alum JA Allen returns to campus to share cartoon-based learning model
An alumnus of the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment has returned to NIU to share his knowledge – and, he hopes, to spark more students to follow his unique path. J.A. Allen, who earned his Ed.D. in Instructional Technology in
Read moreETRA faculty attend May 16 workshop to understand, consider HyFlex teaching
Faculty in the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment (ETRA) are now more skilled in the delivery of “HyFlex” – hybrid-flexible – teaching. Such courses provide “both a classroom and at least one online participation option, or mode, to students. Students
Read moreETRA doctoral students attend AERA
Five doctoral students in the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment attended the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, held April 13 to 16 in Chicago, thanks to funding from their department. Ph.D. students Akosua Birogo Poku, Angie Fanuke,
Read morePhotos: ETRA at STEM Fest
Several representatives from the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment staffed Booth 33 at NIU’s STEM Fest 2022, held Oct. 15. “Our VR and AR educational games were a great hit!” Chair Wei-Chen Hung said. “Kids and parents stood in long
Read moreHard fun: Naperville children provide data on robots, computational thinking
Some faculty in the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment (ETRA) were busy this summer writing about robots – and children. Can children program robots to sort differently sized objects for recycling? Can they write code for robots to simulate an
Read moreVirtual virtuosos: ETRA keeps Learn-IT online, adds student panel discussions
Learn-IT was still virtual in 2022 – and organizers remain enthusiastic about some of the benefits of that online delivery. The Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment’s annual workshop for pre- and in-service educators traditionally has been held the first Saturday
Read moreHow do you like ETRA’s Apples? iMacs find new home in Puerto Rico school
Laura Ruth Johnson knew that some of the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment’s out-of-date computers were just sitting in storage rooms. Johnson also knew where those 21 iMacs could return to life and to resume their mission of teaching and
Read moreMessage from the Chair
Welcome to the ETRA Express, our newsletter for students, faculty, and alumni! I’m Wei-Chen Hung, chair of the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment, and I am pleased to provide you with news and important ETRA information. Our department has come
Read moreProject SEED to begin three-year study of Taiwanese civic literacy, engagement
How do Taiwanese teachers work with and engage students, parents and communities? In what ways are schools there advancing the tenets of a multicultural society? Both are questions faculty from the Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment will explore this summer
Read more