The Association of College and university Educators (ACUE) courses prepare and support faculty to teach with research-based best practices, improving student achievement and closing equity gaps. Completion of ACUE courses lead to a nationally recognized Certificate in Effective College Instruction endorsed by the American Council of Education (ACE).
What can you expect when taking the Effective Teaching Practices (ETP) course?
The course starts with a 3-hour Course Launch on Friday, September 2nd from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and runs through the end of the spring semester.
ETP courses consist of 25 modules that are completed asynchronously, with one module delivered per week (with occasional break weeks).
The course addresses essential pedagogical skills and knowledge in five units of study: Designing an Effective Course and Class, Establishing a Productive Learning Environment, Using Active Learning Strategies, Promoting Higher Order Thinking, and Assessing to Inform Instruction and Promote Learning.
Each module has examples and methods for both in-person and online courses.
The average time commitment in completing the ETP course is 2-3 hours per week.
The ACUE course is offered at no cost to you or your department, thanks to the contribution from grants and funds.
"You Make the Difference" - ACUE
What past MSU Denver participants said about this course:
“This course has enabled me to gain confidence in areas I’ve struggled with, confirm areas of strength and fine-tune several areas of my courses, ultimately enabling me and my students to be more successful in the classroom.”
“I love all the information and practical applications of this ACUE course. I feel energized to integrate so many aspects.”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed this program — I have learned so much that I will be continuing to implement in my ensuing courses. … It helped me feel confident about what I have done for the past five years — but also I have so many new ideas and ways to build on my foundation as a strong instructor. This was immensely valuable!”
“I am incredibly grateful for for the opportunity to take this course. It has helped me do a much better job, especially in this virtual environment. I’m teaching this semester and it is going so much better than in prior years.” – Jennifer Walker
MSU Denver began partnering with ACUE in 2019 to offer faculty learning cohorts. Over 100 faculty have become fully certified in the Effective Teaching Practices program, including special interest areas such as:
95% of faculty are learning, implementing, and improving their teaching
89% of faculty recommend ACUE to a colleague
98.2% of responses from faculty members indicate they agree or strongly agree that the knowledge and skill presented in the modules are relevant to their work (20 respondents; 100 responses)
ACUE's Effective Practice Framework
ACUE’s Effective Practice Framework centers research-based instructional skills and knowledge that every college educator should possess, regardless of discipline or type of institution.
The core of every ACUE course is the already extensive Effective Teaching Practices Framework program. This program addresses the essential pedagogical skills and knowledge in five units of study, including examples and methods for both in-person and online courses:
Establishing Powerful Learning Outcomes
Aligning Assessments with Course Outcomes
Aligning Activities and Assignments with Course Outcomes
Preparing an Effective Syllabus
Leading a Productive First Day
Promoting a Civil Learning Environment
Motivating Your Students
Engaging Underprepared Students
Helping Students Persist in Their Studies
Embracing Diversity in Your Learning Environment
Using Groups to Ensure Active Learning
Using the Active Learning Cycle
Developing Effective Class Sessions and Lectures
Planning Effective Discussions
Facilitating Engaging Discussions
Providing Clear Directions and Explanations
Using Concept Maps and Other Visualization Tools
Teaching Powerful Note-Taking Skills
Using Advanced Questioning
Developing Self-Directed Learners
Developing Fair, Consistent, and Transparent Grading Practices
Developing and Using Rubrics and Checklists
Providing Useful Feedback
Checking for Student Understanding
Using Student Data and Feedback to Improve Your Teaching
MSU Denver ACUE Graduates - College of Business
These faculty members have all earned ACUE's Certificate in Effective College Instruction, endorsed by the American Council on Education.
