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

Linda, Special needs are typically handled by a specific office at your institution. Students that contact that office and register their needs can be provided the resources they need to be successful. Your institution office will typically provide instructors with information about any special needs and the appropriate accomodation that should be considered. Visual impairments, auditory impairments, etc. are a few that may arise. There has been a greater focus in the last few years on ensuring that online learning systems are accessible (can be accessed effectively with screen readers, etc.) as well. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Faculty Expectations

Linda, That is true expectations are very important in online courses; however, maybe even more so. Oftentimes you need to include more details to help eleviate the confusion up front. Communication is a very important expectation as well. When can students contact you, how, with what tools? Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio

Linda, My magic numbers have been 15-20 students, but it certainly depends on the course, content, level, etc. Transitioning to online teaching can be a bit of a challenge at times, but one thing to always keep in mind....change is a constant! I change aspects of my online courses every semester. The opening posts, discussions, and course expectations are not anywhere near the same as they were the first time I taught the course. A couple of important things to remember: you will typically need more details regarding course expectations and assignments than the traditional classroom. Students in a traditional… >>>

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

Linda, I find myself being very careful to re-read postings and emails before I submit them and I try to read them from the student's perspective. I have had many instances when my emails have come across too strong so I am much more aware of how I write and always keep my audience in mind when writing. The body lang. etc. are not there in email but there are other tools, such as video conferencing where you can see these items. You can also pick up tone and related elements in their writings and postings as times. Herbert Brown… >>>

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Managing Learner Behaviors

Linda, Good ideas. I like how you mention your open-mindedness, this I believe is critical for us as instructors to be reflective practicioners and willing to realize we might need to change something. We do on the other hand have to ensure though that students still conduct themselves in a professional and respectful way. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Will Online Learning Replace the Traditional Classroom?

Sandra, I do see a continued growth in online teaching and learning. I also agree that aspects such as telemedicine, which has actually been around many years, suggest that areas such as medicine can have online elements. Let me play devil's advocate....we can do virtual dissections on frogs in science....taking that to the next step, do you want a surgeon who has only completed "virtual" simulated surgeries to actually do your next surgery? Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio

Khaled, I have found similar results. I would also suggest that the content of the course and the instructional design of the course and also influence the optimal ratio of the course. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Will Online Learning Replace the Traditional Classroom?

Sandra, I still don't believe it will replace the traditional classroom in the immediate future; however, the trend is still growing. What has been primarily a higher education focus for most online learning, it is now moving quickly into the K-12 education markets. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Assisting the Online Student

Randall, There is certainly the level at which it becomes painfully evident that some students will just not take the help provided and then must reap the consequences. It is a bit disappointing as an instructor as well when all efforts have been made and the student just refuses to change. This can and does certainly occur in traditional classrooms as well; the ones that just stop coming to class, you try to contact them and they just refuse to take any help or guidance you give. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Assisting the Online Student

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