Center for Learning Innovation
The Center for Learning Innovation (CLI) at Illinois Tech is the university's bridge between academics and technology. CLI addresses the institution's evolving needs and challenges of our learning environments. CLI staff have years of experience helping faculty with online and in-person course instruction. The Center’s core mission is to work with faculty to promote active learning in face-to-face, blended, or online courses. Using instructional design principles and educational technology, the Center partners with faculty and departments to create enriching learning experiences and improve learning outcomes for all Illinois Tech students. CLI support touches all facets of student academic experiences from initial instructional design and pedagogy, to production and delivery of course content, management of exams for remote students, and more. The Center for Learning Innovation also administers online courses and programs, including Coursera.
COURSERA
Illinois Tech offers a variety of programs and certificates through Coursera. CLI manages day-to-day operations of Illinois Tech’s programs in Coursera. Coursera course offerings, calendars, and some policies differ slightly from those on main campus. See Coursera FAQs for details.
BLACKBOARD (moving to CANVAS Fall 2024)
Illinois Tech uses Blackboard Learn as its learning management system (LMS). Every course at Illinois Tech has a corresponding course shell in Blackboard. In Fall 2024, Illinois Tech is moving to Canvas, a more streamlined and mobile-friendly LMS.
The Center for Learning Innovation manages day-to-day operations of Illinois Tech’s LMS and provides user training and support. The majority of Illinois Tech faculty use the LMS to—at a minimum— post their course syllabus and course content. Other instructional technology used by Illinois Tech includes Zoom for web video conferencing and Panopto, for video content management and storage. Instructors may hold either a synchronous course—with all students in attendance at the usual course date and time—or an asynchronous course, with students accessing the material at any time. See our portfolio table below for details. The Center for Learning Innovation manages day-to-day operations of our LMS and provides faculty training and support. The majority of Illinois Tech faculty use our LMS. Many post their course syllabus and other course content in their course shell.
Please note that utilization of the LMS or any of its specific features in a particular course or course shell is entirely dependent upon the department or instructor teaching that particular course. Students with questions about our learning management system, related technologies, and features should contact the Support Desk.
CLI's PORTFOLIO
ONLINE COURSES AND PROGRAMS
The Center for Learning Innovation supports departments in the design, delivery, and administration of Illinois Tech online courses and programs. For specific details regarding a particular online course or program, the best source of information will always be the department that offers the particular course or program.
Prospective students who wish to take online courses or programs must first be admitted to a degree, certificate, or professional development program. Students in online courses or programs are Illinois Tech students and are subject to the same policies and procedures as on-campus students in face-to-face courses.
Most online program and course offerings are at the graduate level. Courses follow the same 16-week semester as the university academic calendar. Courses typically have the same faculty and follow the same syllabus. Course structure and delivery vary, depending on the instructor. In many cases, online course content is created using recorded lectures of the corresponding face-to-face course. Recordings are typically made available in your course shell within a few hours of the face-to-face-session. Online and face-to-face course sections may share a course shell, yet the sections are distinct; students enrolled in online sections are not counted when considering room assignments for courses or exams.
If a course holds exams, exams follow the same university exam schedule. Exams for remote students are coordinated through CLI. Proctored exams are typically administered online or at local testing centers. Students are responsible for any additional third party fees associated with taking exams online or at testing centers. Fees can vary widely depending on the provider selected.
