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

Managing Learner Behaviors - 2

Lisa, All good points. Oftentimes there are other underlying issues that might be contributing to the problems students are experiencing. If we don't take a proactive approach and try to determine all of the underlying issues, it makes it very difficult to successfully help students. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Managing Learner Behaviors

Kim, Do you believe he has a relevant point? If so, would you do anything to address his issue? What? Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Will Online Learning Replace the Traditional Classroom?

Don, Unfortunately money does drive much of education for better or worse. There have been great strides in education because of money, but others have taken it to the point of diploma mills and lowered standards to the point that some individuals believe all online education is substandard. Online will continue to grow and traditional instruction will continue to be transformed with the new online tools to develop more hybrid models of instruction. The next 5-10 years will be an interesting time in education. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

Kim, This is not uncommon. It sounds like you are taking a proactive approach and that is definitely the first step. Use all of your contact information for the student to try to reach them and get them back on track. Some schools have dedicated advisers or counselors for the students who might be able to help you reach the wayward student. Continue to encourage them to contact you to discuss the course and content and make it clear to them that their success is dependent on them making contact with you. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

Cherise, I was/am this way as well. I find I have to read over my email messages to students carefully and I try to mentally read them from the student perspective to determine if what I am saying might be misunderstood. This has definitely helped. I also find that you feedback on assignments I have to consciously make sure I mention a few good things they did and not just hit what is wrong - then I look too critical and not supportive enough. It is a fine line at times. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Faculty Expectations

Zakaria, The virtual on-demand availability can be a problem. That is why it is important to clearly articulate when students should expect responses - 24 hours, etc. and make sure students clearly understand that. Sometimes students have an unrealistic expectation of "immediate" responses to all messages. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Managing Learner Behaviors - 2

Zakaria, Good quote. Sometimes the students just need a little more encouragement and help and that is enough to get them back on track. Sometimes we find out that there are other underlying issues that are the root of other problems. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Will Online Learning Replace the Traditional Classroom?

Zakaria, This is certainly a different perspective on the question. Thank you for sharing your personal experiences. I think it is hypocritical of universities to push online courses and programs and then (at times and some institutions) consider online advanced degrees substandard for their own faculty. I don't want to suggest that all institutions are this way, but I have seen enough of this in my years to know it is more prevalent than we want to admit. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Faculty Expectations

Zakaria, These are mostly student expectations (except maybe contact...that is both). Do you think you should also provide instructor expectations? What should the students expect from YOU the instructor. Timely feedback? Others? Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Managing Learner Behaviors

Zakaria, I believe I am following your ideas here. You will always have students at different levels and some might even know more about a subject than you or I. Helping even these students to stretch their own learning and knowledge is what the learning process is about. If we need to tweak a question or ask the student to take another approach to stretch their knowledge, that is a good thing! Herbert Brown III

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