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Herbert Brown III

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
Herbert Brown III
Discussion Comment
Faculty Expectations
Jerri, Do you also include other expectations the students should have for you? Such as the timeliness of grading, when best to contact you, how the assessments will accomplished...others? The more detail the students have on the front end of a course, the less likely that confusion and misunderstanding will creep in to the course. Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Discussion Comment
The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio
david, Most people would agree that the magic range for them for either format is 15-25 or so based on a number of factors. With this number you have the best chance of giving the students the quality and timely feedback they need and allows the instructor to be more effective. Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Discussion Comment
The Responsibilities of Teaching Online
John , Interesting. Is this a regular problem for you? Can you think of anything else you could do to clarify the questions or phrases? Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Discussion Comment
The Responsibilities of Teaching Online
John , Interesting. Is this a regular problem for you? Can you think of anything else you could do to clarify the questions or phrases? Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Discussion Comment
The Responsibilities of Teaching Online
John , What are some ways that you have been successful addressing their learning styles in an online course, or if you are not teaching online, how you might address that in an online course? Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Discussion Comment
Will Online Learning Replace the Traditional Classroom?
John , That is the trend. Online learning is still growing at a strong pace. However, some students still want a very traditional classroom experience. Blended classrooms that combine the best of both are also growing in popularity. Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Discussion Comment
The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio
Dan, I agree with everything you say for criteria that impact the optimal student-instructor ratio. I would also include that the "level" of the content (grad./undergrad.) and nature of the course design (assignments, interactions, etc. - some of which you noted) are also factors. Unfortunately most administrators don't review all of these criteria. Do you have a general "range" that you have found to be best? Example 50-100 or 10-15 or 15-25 to one instructor? Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Discussion Comment
Instructor Presence
Sean , I agree that video conferencing tools are a great tool to connect with some students. Although I would argue that an online course that is completely done synchronously through video conferencing is technically just a televised on-campus class. Many online students take online courses to facilitate work schedules, etc. so they can attend school. Video conferencing can certainly help add to the online instructor's appearance of "presence" Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Discussion Comment
The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio
Julie, I would love to have 10-15 in a heavy writing course, but the realities of the financial picture in academics makes it unlikely that I will ever teach that few. In fact our university just passed requirements of 15 graduate and 18 undergraduate students to begin new online cohorts of students. I disagreed with setting such a hard and fast number and disagreed with the 18 in a cohort but it all came down to money and the policy was set. Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Herbert Brown III
Discussion Comment
The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio
joseph, I agree. At times I teach writing courses and our university caps our junior level writing courses as 23 even for on-campus classes. I would prefer to have closer to 20. Overall I have found that 15-20 for most courses seems to be the optimal ratio for most of my courses. Herbert Brown III

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