Herbert Brown III

Location: appalachian state university - boone, nc - usa

About me

Herb Brown is a professor and program director in the business and information technology education program at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. He directs the Graduate program in New Media/Global Education and Online Teaching and Learning at Appstate. He has taught information technology, instructional technology, and business education courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels for 20 years and served 10 years in the role of Director of Technology for several universities. He has held teaching and administrative positions at James Madison University, The University of Virginia's College at Wise, the University of South Carolina and Appalachian State University. He holds a Ph.D. in Vocational Education with a cognate in Computer Information Systems from Virginia Tech. His articles have appeared in Information Technology, Learning, and Performance Journal, EDUCAUSE Quarterly, and the NABTE Journal.

Interests

online teaching and learning, career and technical education, business & information technology education

Skills

online teaching and learning, teaching methodology, information technology education, web development/design

Website

http://edtech.appstate.edu

Activity

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Will Online Learning Replace the Traditional Classroom?

Tanya, Well put. We are of course seeing a blending of the two as well in the form of hybrid or blended courses and even flipped classrooms. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

KIM, Can you elaborate on your statement a little more? Are you not the content creator and therefore feel disconnected from the content you are asked to teach? Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio

Tanya, Very well articulated. Many people report an optimal ratio of about 15-20; however, as you have found there are many factors that actually influence the ideal number of students in any one course or program. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Faculty Expectations

Angela, Do you hold "live" office hours? I have done that and find that very few students actually use them. I have found that they expect feedback to their issues or questions much sooner than the next office hours, so I try to provide just in time feedback as much as possible and students have responded that they see me as "present" in the course. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Engaging Learners in Discussion

Tanya, Your interaction in those discussions is of course paramount and the students will see your "presence" in the course that way. I also tell my students what the minimum is, and that the minimum means at best a "C" on a letter scales since that is average. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

Tanya, I would suggest that if we are worried about whether they understand the content or not, that is actually determined by the assignments in a well designed course. Success on those assignments should demonstrate that the students have the appropriate grasp and depth of knowledge related to the content. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio

KIM, Most people would agree that a 15 or 20:1 ratio is ideal for most courses. However, that could differ depending on the course content, level, course design, etc. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Faculty Expectations

Tanya, These are all great expectations for the students. Do you have any expectations for the instructor....you? What might those look like? Should we be held accountable for our classes' success in any way....what might that be? Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Faculty Expectations

Darcel, All great information to include in your syllabus in expectations. Should students have expectations for you? Are you for yourself? In other words, what should you be held accountable for in the course, anything? Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Will Online Learning Replace the Traditional Classroom?

Niki, What you describe is the bigger issue with education - not so much the delivery platform as it is the delivery of the content. But in today's information age and digital stimulus constantly changing, we also expect instructors to "entertain" us in the traditional classroom instead of taking responsibility for our own learning. Online education makes us take responsibility for our learning. I believe what you describe is also why instructors are starting to embrace the flipped classroom models where they use the technology to deliver the basic content which then frees up class time to have more meaningful… >>>

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