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

Engaging Learners in Discussion

Marjorie, In my courses I regularly ask students to expand on their discussion posts. This is especially important if I see that they are just understanding the content at a cursory level. I will give them prompts to encourage a deeper reflection or analysis of the content. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

Marjorie, Do you find that students get frustrated with you as you try to "guide" them through their learning through those multiple communication attempts? I find many students want the exactly answer and immediately gratitfication. It is a learning process for the students to just understand that they need to more actively engage the content and experiment and research more to determine the answer. In my graduate courses we really try to get the students to interact with fellow students and help them build a "community" of learners. This community helps each other work through their issues as they arise.… >>>

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

Marjorie, We can also use video conferencing tools in place of phone calls and then we get to see their body language and voice. The design of the interaction with the students should also be created so that their responses to interactive prompts truely reflect their leraning and undestanding. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

The Responsibilities of Teaching Online

William, I agree the content is very important. Even with math and other subjects I think at times we have to provide traditional delivery of concepts and content, but then guide them through the deeper analysis and synthesis of the information to help them reach the next level of cognitive understanding. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Engaging Learners in Discussion

William, Your final sentence hits on a very valuable factor to success as a teacher, online or otherwise, and that is learning from ourselves, our students, and our practices. This is being a reflective practitioner and allows us to constantly change and improve ourselves. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Faculty Expectations

Marjorie, From a legal perspective it is imperative that you know any documented special needs, how you might accomodate those needs, and make every effort to meet those needs. We should also make sure that the resources we use for classes are "accessible" to meet the needs of all students - good point! Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Faculty Expectations

Marjorie, All expectations in general have to be MUCH more specific. The set of course expectations you list on your first online course will change completely buy the 3rd or 4th time you teach it (and likely sooner). You have to be very clear on communications: how, when students cna contact you; when to expect responses, etc. You can clearly articulate computer requirements, although you never know unti they can't successfully complete an advanced computer assignment that they don't meet those expectations. Give clear schedules and due dates. Clear expectations reqgarding late work and consequences. Anything you would cover in… >>>

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Assisting the Online Student

Jason, We still have to make the effort to get them to connect with you. Certainly there are some that just "drop off" and refuse to communication with you; however, we should be making the extra effort in online courses to connect with these individuals (via phone, etc.) to determine what the problem is. It could be a personal problem, a technical problem, or genuine misunderstanding. Try to connect with them using all means possible: video conference, phone, chat, text, whatever means possible. Also remind them of the consequences for not communicating with you (possible failing grade, other issues) so… >>>

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Managing Learner Behaviors

Jason, It may also be necessary to reiterate the expectations of the course. Examples like this reinforce the need to have very clear, concise and complete (as possible) expectations for the course and behavior/professionalism. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Faculty Expectations

Tammy, These are all great items to include. What level of detail do you feel you need in these items in an online course, relative to an onground class? Herbert Brown III

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