Foundations of Student-Centered Virtual Instruction
Create impactful online experiences that empower learners in every class.
Proven Strategies for Effective Online Teaching
Grounded in ACUE’s Effective Teaching Framework, the Effective Online Teaching Practices course prepares faculty for the realities of virtual instruction across online, hybrid, synchronous, and asynchronous courses. Faculty learn to create supportive environments, design engaging modules and microlectures, facilitate active learning and inquiry, and develop student-centered courses that drive persistence and success. Taken as four pathway courses or a single comprehensive course, ACUE’s nationally recognized Certification in Effective Teaching equips faculty to deliver engaging learning in every class.
Creating a Productive Online Learning Environment
Create welcoming online learning environments where students feel connected and supported. Build engagement through clear communication, meaningful connections, and timely feedback that foster persistence and boost learning in virtual spaces.
What’s Included
- Welcoming Students to Online Learning
Launch your course successfully, build a community of learners, and help students understand course expectations. - Promoting Civil Online Learning Environments
Set expectations for a productive online learning environment and address minor and major disruptions. - Ensuring Access to Online Learning for All
Assess students’ prior knowledge, incorporate research-based study strategies, review students’ online activity to identify challenges, and encourage the use of academic support resources. - Helping Students Persist in Online Learning
Build students’ growth mindsets and help them overcome imposter syndrome. - Checking for Student Understanding in Online Learning
Assess students’ understanding by using quality questioning techniques, wait time, cold calling, and Q&A forums. - Providing Useful Feedback for Online Learning
Deliver feedback that is timely, actionable, and aligned to learning outcomes.
Promoting Active Learning Online
Master online teaching strategies that transform digital courses into active learning experiences with organized content, collaborative discussions, and ways for students to build connections and apply their new knowledge.
What’s Included
- Developing Effective Modules and Microlectures
Organize course modules and microlectures to maximize learning and provide opportunities for interaction. - Teaching Powerful Note-Taking Online
Motivate students to take notes by sharing pointers, providing organizing frameworks, and giving students opportunities to use their notes. - Using Groups to Ensure Active Online Learning
Implement small-group active learning strategies that encourage accountability and deeper thinking. - Using the Active Learning Cycle in Online Courses
Effectively plan and facilitate the active learning cycle to pique student interest, build content knowledge, and require students to apply new concepts. - Planning Effective Online Discussions
Craft thought-provoking discussion prompts that leverage students’ experiences, offer choice, and include clear participation expectations. - Facilitating Engaging Online Discussions
Maximize the impact of discussions by balancing voices, encouraging quieter students, and providing strategic feedback.
Inspiring Inquiry and Lifelong Learning in Your Online Course
Boost student motivation, clarify complex ideas, and cultivate independent learners who actively engage with course material and take ownership of their success.
What’s Included
- Motivating Students Online
Support student success by inspiring appreciation for the discipline, setting goals, encouraging participation, and providing a variety of resources. - Providing Clear Directions and Explanations in Online Courses
Provide high-quality directions by breaking activities into steps, modeling and recording the steps, and checking student comprehension. - Integrating Visualization Tools in Online Courses
Use concept maps and a variety of visualization tools to assist students in understanding complex interrelationships between concepts. - Using Data and Feedback to Improve Online Teaching
Use student data and midsemester feedback to inform and adjust your instruction. - Using Advanced Questioning in Online Courses
Plan questioning strategies that prompt critical thinking, leverage real-world examples, and help students develop their questioning skills. - Developing Self-Directed Online Learners
Learn how to help students take ownership of their learning through assignment planning and self-assessment opportunities.
Designing Learner-Centered Courses
Design cohesive, student-centered courses where learning outcomes, assessments, and activities align seamlessly and your syllabus and grading policies empower students to achieve success.
What’s Included
- Ensuring Learner-Centered Course Outcomes
Write student-centered learning outcomes that accurately describe the knowledge and skills students need to be successful in your course. - Designing Aligned Assessments and Assignments
Design assessments that allow students to demonstrate proficiency and support students in meeting expectations. - Aligning Learning Experiences With Course Outcomes
Design transparent assignments and learning activities that prepare students to meet course outcomes. - Developing and Using Rubrics and Checklists
Develop grading tools that clarify requirements, support learning, and provide you with data to inform your instruction. - Developing Fair, Consistent, and Transparent Grading Practices
Explore research-based grading systems and clearly communicate your grading policies. - Preparing an Effective Syllabus
Design a syllabus that communicates essential information and sets students up for success.
Elevate Online Learning for Every Student
Empower faculty to design and deliver engaging and student-centered virtual learning. The result is stronger teaching, greater connection, and improved outcomes for all learners.
