Effective Teaching Practices

Would you like to learn more about effective teaching practices based on the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) Effective Practice Framework?  The ACUE courses focus on innovative and evidence-based teaching strategies and the creation of productive learning environments. They cover a wide range of topics that range from creating powerful learning outcomes and motivating your students to strategies for engaging students and implementing higher-order thinking.

WVU is offering an opportunity to participate in an online learning community with peers from across WVU campuses. This experience will support you in enhancing your current courses and preparing for future courses.

Here’s what one past participant has to say about these courses:

Toni Marie Rudisill
Assistant Professor
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Micro-credential Courses:

As part of the ACUE Effective Practice Framework, there are four micro-credential courses which prepare instructors with evidence-based teaching practices proven to increase student achievement and close equity gaps.

You can complete a set of courses to receive a micro-credential that can be stacked in pursuit of a certificate which is awarded in collaboration with the American Council on Education (ACE) . This is the only college credential endorsed by the ACE.

ACUE Effective Teaching Practices Micro-credential Course Options

Spring 2023 courses:

Summer 2023:

Course Facilitators:

Dr. Bob Britten
Teaching Associate Professor
Reed College of Media

 

Dr. Kim Floyd
Associate Professor of Special Education
Department of Counseling and Learning Sciences

 

Dr. Fang Yang
Teaching Professor
Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science

Instructors who have received the Certificate in Effective Instruction granted by ACUE and the American Council on Education (ACE)

ACUE Information Sessions:

The following information sessions will allow you to learn about ACUE, engage in a course experience, and get your questions answered.

Regiser for the Information Session for December 13 at 10:00 am

Who Can Participate?

Open to all instructors including full-time, part-time, and graduate teaching assistants at any of the WVU campuses (Morgantown, Beckley, Keyser, Martinsburg, and Charleston).  Priority will be given to full-time faculty members, followed by part-time instructors and then graduate teaching assistants.

Except for the Designing Learner-Centered and Equitable Courses micro-credential course, instructors will need to be teaching during the semester in which they enroll in an ACUE micro-credential course in order to be able to implement the strategies presented in the modules and reflect upon the implementation.

What Is My Commitment?

The courses are delivered within an online platform for the delivery of content and are presented asynchronously. During the courses, instructors will think about their own course, attempt to implement new or expanded skills, and reflect on the effectiveness of those changes. ACUE estimates faculty will spend 2-3 hours per week on coursework.

There will also be voluntary virtual meetings for each micro-credential course after a block of 2-3 modules. Your facilitator will inform you of the dates for these meetings.

What Credentials Will I Earn?

Instructors will receive a digital badge for the completion of each of the micro-credential courses and the full ACUE Certificate in Effective College Instruction, endorsed by the American Council on Education (ACE), upon completion of all four micro-credential courses:

• Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environment (either Effective Teaching Practices or Effective Online Teaching Practices option)
• Designing Learner-Centered and Equitable Courses (Modality Independent)
  

• Inspiring Inquiry and Preparing Lifelong Learners (either Effective Teaching Practices or Effective Online Teaching Practices option)

• Promoting Active Learning (either Effective Teaching Practices or Effective Online Teaching Practices option)

The course badges and full certificate are a great way to document your commitment to teaching and can be added to your curriculum vitae, used in online teaching portfolios, and displayed on LinkedIn profiles or webpages as a sign of your achievement.

You may also want to document your completion of the ACUE courses within Digital Measures.  There is an ACUE activity type under the Teaching Innovation and Curriculum Development section.

To view your badges, you can create a free account on Badgr at https://badgr.com/auth/signup by using the same email address you use in ACUE canvas. Once you've created your account, you can view your Badgr backpack ( https://badgr.com/backpack/badges) where all your issued badges will be listed.

Instructors who previously earned the ACUE Effective Teaching Practices certificate (full 25-module course) can return to complete the following micro-credential courses to earn an Advanced Certificate in Effective College Instruction:

• Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Online Learning Environment
• Promoting Active Learning Online
• Inspiring Inquiry and Preparing Lifelong Learning in Your Online Course

How Do I Register?

You may register here.  The deadline to register for Spring courses is January 5th at 5 p.m.

The selection process is competitive and, thus, you may be placed on a wait list if more people register than we are able to accommodate.

There will be a Course Launch for participants new to ACUE. Though not mandatory, it will be beneficial to orient you to the course. Specific information about the course launch will be provided upon being selected as a participant.

Who Can Answer My Questions?

Please direct any questions to john.oughton@mail.wvu.edu