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?

Diane, I agree it will probably not replace it in the immediate future. However, we will continue to see a strong increase in online options and opportunities as well as strong increases in blended and hybrid instructional environments. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Engaging Learners in Discussion

Colleen, Plagiarism is a real problem for all institutions I am glad you take a strong stance against it - I do the same. Regarding the students regurgitating material from other posts, could you require them to be me "reflective" with their own personal experiences and how the material connects with or reinforces their own ideas or experience and make them provide specific details about their personal experiences. This way they have to provide their own personal element to the post and it makes it more difficult to regurgitate. It also shows that they understand the concepts enough that they… >>>

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio

Andy, Your ratio seems to be the most common and for the same reasons. I have found that the numbers can vary a little more based on the content being taught and the nature and level of the course (grad./undergrad.) but I agree that too many and it is difficult to manage and too few makes it very hard to build meaningful discussions. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

Colleen, Could you also ask them to provide some very specific ways that the student's life or experiences relate to the content, or ask them to provide a personal reflection on the topic. If you did an introductory forum with them you might have some insights to them that you can look for in those reflections. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Managing Learner Behaviors

Janet, I agree that you might have more experience with the content than the students, but I have also found that at times it is good to listen to what they have to say as sometimes they provide some meaningful insight I have not thought of. You do need to provide them guidance on how the assignments are relative. Would you entertain more feedback from the student on their alternatives and why their's makes more sense? Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

Janet, One of the best ways to provide the feedback to students is through the Sandwich method (found in other postings on this site). The Sandwich method suggests that you provide the student a little positive feedback on what they did, provide the issues/criticism, then close with a little more positive feedback. This way you "sandwich" the negative with two positive comments. This way the student hears what is wrong, but also is reassured that something they did was good. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Faculty Expectations

Colleen, What about expectations for you as the instructor of the course. Should the students be able to expect things in the course FROM you as well? Such as how long it will take assignments to be returned. Depth and kinds of feedback, etc. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Faculty Expectations

Janet, I like the way you included elements for you, the instructor, in your expectations. I believe it is important for students to not only understand what is expected FROM them but what they can expect FROM US as well. It helps hold everyone accountable in the course. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

The Responsibilities of Teaching Online

Ligia, That is a good point. We do need to help motivate students in education. How do you do that in the online classroom? It is hard enough at times in a traditional classroom and it can be that much more difficult for online classrooms. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Will Online Learning Replace the Traditional Classroom?

Ligia, If you don't think online will completely replace the traditional classroom, what level of impact do you think it will make? It is certainly making an enormous impact right now according to the research. What about blended or hybrid classrooms? Herbert Brown III

End of Content