About

This site was created through a partnership between the Office of the Provost and Northwestern Information Technology with input and collaboration from many faculty, administrators, and offices across campus. The primary goal is to provide a glimpse into what is happening inside the Northwestern classroom and to help connect the dots between various innovations in teaching and learning.

We hope this site inspires faculty to learn more about digital learning and continue thinking creatively about how technology can support their pedagogy.


Who do I contact for help on my digital project?

There are a number of resources across campus that support digital learning. Please reach out to any of these groups to get started.


Who else is involved with digital learning strategies at Northwestern?

Several governance committees oversee various aspects of digital learning and capture the many perspectives across our schools. The individuals on these committees think broadly about teaching, learning, and technology to provide guidance to senior leadership and continue to shape the directions for online and blended learning. They continue to grapple with questions such as:

  • Does technology enhance teaching and learning? How does this vary across disciplines and student backgrounds? In what ways can we continue to measure learning and the efficacy of online and blended learning approaches?
  • What are the latest innovations in the teaching and learning space? How can Northwestern [continue to?] serve as a thought leader in this space? How can we push ourselves and other in higher education to deliver the very best education and position our students for success in their lives and careers?
  • How can we promote proven strategies to best support faculty and students in their teaching and learning at Northwestern and beyond?

Committees working to address these and other questions related to digital learning include:

  • Learning and Technology ecosystem Advisory Committee (LTAC): The Learning and Technology ecosystem Advisory Committee supports pedagogical innovation through enhancements to learning spaces and advancements in instructional practices through the use of learning analytics and related educational technologies that intersect broadly to support the learning experience. The committee makes recommendations regarding priorities for investment and experimentation while assessing the overall benefits and impact on the student learning experience. LTAC also features three subcommittees—the Learning Spaces Working Group, Digital Learning Working Group, and the Learning Management System and Learning Apps Working Group. Learn more.
  • Affordable Instructional Resources (AIR): Affordable Instructional Resources was formed in the fall of 2017 as a collaboration between the Office of the Provost, University Libraries, Northwestern Information Technology, Northwestern Bookstore, and the Faculty Senate. The group is interested in issues related to access and inclusion in higher education, specifically focused on the supplemental costs of a Northwestern education. AIR recognizes the challenges in balancing quality and cost when selecting required materials for courses and aims to provide systematic support to faculty in making their courses more affordable. Learn more.