by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College and ACUE have announced a partnership to increase student success through effective instruction as part of the school’s four-pillar Strategic Plan.
The program launches this September when 60 full-time and adjunct educators begin a national certificate program in evidence-based teaching practices shown to increase student achievement and course completion.
KCKCC is one of seven competitive grant winners, and the only community college, selected by the Kauffman Foundation to receive support under the KC Scholars program to implement ACUE’s Course in Effective Teaching Practices.
Faculty who complete the program are awarded a nationally recognized Certificate in Effective College Instruction that is co-endorsed by ACUE and the American Council on Education (ACE).
Based on more than three decades of research on the specific teaching practices that improve learning for all students, ACUE’s course complements the work of the college’s Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), which was established in 2016.
CTE works to “foster academic discourse specific to the craft of teaching while leveraging technology, academic assessment, and professional learning to enhance pedagogy and student learning.”
“The faculty and administration at Kansas City Kansas Community College are really looking forward to the opportunity to participate in the ACUE Course in Effective Teaching Practices,” said Tom Grady, faculty assistant director for the CTE. “Participation in this professional development opportunity demonstrates our institutional commitment and dedication to implementing evidence-based teaching strategies that focus on student success. We would like to thank ACUE and the Kauffman Foundation for supporting faculty and administration at KCKCC in our efforts to provide a framework for engaging learners, creating pathways for success, and striving for excellence in higher education.”
ACUE’s Course in Effective Teaching Practices is aligned with the latest research in cognition and adult learning, and it exceeds online learning standards, as certified by Quality Matters. It consists of 25 learning modules that address over 200 evidence-based teaching practices and are organized into five units of study:
• designing an effective course and class
• establishing a productive learning environment
• using active learning techniques
• promoting higher order thinking
• and assessing to inform instruction and promote learning
“We are excited to collaborate with Kansas City Kansas Community College as they engage their faculty in this additional opportunity alongside the Center for Teaching Excellence work designed to fully support instructors in learning and putting into practice the evidence-based teaching practices we know improve student motivation, engagement, and learning,” stated Penny MacCormack, chief academic officer at ACUE.
Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at KCKCC.
