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

Faculty Expectations

GENIEVE, Should all of the requirements be the same for all courses or just all of the "same" course. Each course can be very different in the best way to design and deliver the content in that course. However, there is something to be said for consistent within the same courses at an institution. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

Michael, The main idea is to give a variety of learning activities that address the outcomes you are trying to obtain. A diversity of activities helps you reach those different learning styles. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Assisting the Online Student

Diane, That is true, most software applications can help control this process and ensure it is linear. Should education be linear and lock-step? Do you believe there are other designs or have you taught using other designs - were they successful? Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Managing Learner Behaviors

Helena, Good strategies. There are times that the students might have a valid point. We as instructors need to be at least open to hearing concerns that students have and address them as appropriate. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Will Online Learning Replace the Traditional Classroom?

Helena, This is also what the research is showing. There is still a steady increase in students taking online courses. Web-hybrid offerings are also increasing at most schools. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Faculty Expectations

Patricia, Expectations are very important to set the tone of the course. I do, however, find that I revise them as I teach the course each semester. It may take a couple of semester of revising the expectations before I get them pretty much where I want them. Even then I may tweak a little each semester as things change in the course or student interactions warrant a change. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

The Responsibilities of Teaching Online

Lealan, One thing in distance education is constant ... CHANGE. It summed it up very well. I change elements of what I do every semester. I seldom do the same thing for more than 1-2 semesters. Tools change, student demographics change, the trick is to stay up with the change. It is possible, but can take a lot of time and effort. I get bored easy, so it is the field for me! Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio

Simone, You will see this ratio vary greatly. For someone working in a completely automated online course the numbers may be very great. However for any course with discussions (and I would hope most courses would) the ratio should have a cap. I prefer a 1:15 of 18 but realistically for most this becomes more like 20-25. The more students the more difficult it can be to give personal attention to each one. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Managing Learner Behaviors

Andrea, Students are certainly expected to complete the required work in the course. Would you attempt to determine if there are other underlying issues in the objection or if there is merit to the objection? Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Managing Learner Behaviors

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