Missouri S&T faculty are nearing the halfway point of the 26-week Effective Online Teaching Practices course through the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE).

Several participants report positive changes in their online classroom environments, including better attendance, more engagement, ways to save time, and new connections with colleagues who are helping them solve issues related to online teaching and learning.

Dr. Radu Puslenghea, assistant teaching professor of economics, is one of 59 S&T faculty in the ACUE program. Puslenghea will earn credentials in online teaching for five years upon completing the program, but he has begun seeing impressive results already as he applies what he learns.

Puslenghea says that the individual elements taught in the course may not seem revolutionary in and of themselves, “but when you put everything together, you will get a very dramatic change in how you do your job.”

He is one of five faculty who share their thoughts on the program in a video series produced by the Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFE).

The series includes videos featuring:

• Dr. Mary Gillis, assistant teaching professor of teacher education and certification
• Dr. Radu Puslenghea, assistant teaching professor of economics
• Dr. Michelle Schwartze, assistant teaching professor of teacher education and certification
• Dr. Bijaya Shrestha, associate teaching professor of electrical engineering.

The UM System-ACUE initiative is focused on improving quality instruction, and ultimately student success, through intentional professional development for faculty across the four universities through a grant provided by the National Association of System Heads. All faculty, whether they are enrolled in the program or not, can use the free resources offered on the ACUE website.  

For more information, please contact CAFE at cafe@mst.edu.