ACUE Focus: Dr. Madhushaw Reniguntala

More than 153 UA - Pulaski Technical College faculty have improved their teaching practices through a program with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE). This rigorous, evidence based, 25-week course engages instructors with independently validated research to improve student achievement and close equity gaps. ACUE Focus is a question and answer series where faculty share their experiences with ACUE.

Dr. Madhushaw Reniguntala
Associate Teaching Professor of Chemistry, Department of Natural and Physical Sciences
Education: Ph.D. National Tsing Hua University

1. What ACUE Cohort were you a part of?

I was part of UA-PTC ACUE Cohort 2 (2019) batch.

2. What do you teach and how do you think you benefited from the ACUE course?

I teach Fundamental Chemistry I, General Chemistry I, Physical Science, and Earth Science. I have learned and tremendously benefited from taking this course. I have implemented several modules especially for establishing a productive learning environment in class and promoting higher order thinking.

3. Best thing you learned from ACUE?

Few of the best things I have learned through ACUE is how to motivate the students and engaging under prepared students in class which ultimately led to higher student retention and success. ACUE also taught me how to promote higher order thinking among students by implementing few of the modules live in class such as using concept maps and other visualization tools.

4. Do you think your students benefited from you taking the ACUE course and if so, how?

My students have greatly benefited from me taking the ACUE course. Few of the module techniques which promoted higher student success rates was implemented in class. The results are evident from my student success and retention scores during that year.

The student Success data from Spring and Fall 2019 is attached as a reference. The overall success rate, pass rates and the retention rates for each subject shown as below.

For Spring 2019:

CHEM 1403 Fun Chem I - 100.0 % (Success)/ 100.0 % (Pass)/ 100.0 % (Retention)
PHYS1400 Earth Science - 94.0 % (Success)/ 94.0 % (Pass)/ 94.0 % (Retention)
PHYS1401 Physical Science - 85.0 % (Success)/ 85.0 % (Pass)/ 100.0 % (Retention)
Overall Average, Spring 2019 - 92.0 % (Success)/92.0 % (Pass)/ 96.0 % (Retention)

For Fall 2019:

CHEM 1103 - Fun Chem I Lab - 100.0 % (Success)/ 100.0 % (Pass)/ 100.0 % (Retention)
CHEM 1303 - Fun Chem I Lecture - 100% (Success)/ 100% (Pass)/ 100% (Retention)
PHYS1107 - Earth Science Lab - 91.0 % (Success)/ 91.0 % (Pass)/ 100.0 % (Retention)
PHYS1307 - Earth Science Lecture - 95.0 % (Success)/ 95.0 % (Pass)/ 100% (Retention)
PHYS1100 - Physical Science Lab - 98.0 % (Success)/ 98.0 % (Pass)/ 98.0 % (Retention)
PHYS1300 - Physical Science Lecture - 84% (Success)/ 88% (Pass)/ 97% (Retention)
Overall Average, Fall 2019 94% (Success)/95% (Pass)/ 99% (Retention)

4. What was your favorite module in ACUE?

There were few of them I loved, but my favorite module in ACUE under Establishing a Productive Learning Environment was Motivating the students and Helping students persist in their studies.