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

Jamilya, I agree with your statements. How do you articulate those requirements to the students and ensure they read and comprehend the expectations? Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

Robert, These are great ideas. You are also meeting their unique learning styles by offering alternative assessment techniques. I use many of these as well and they work very well. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio

Amer, I agree! There is not a one size fits all in online learning. All factors have to be taken in to consideration to build effective courses and programs. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Managing Learner Behaviors - 2

Matthew, Yes, good point and analogy. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio

Marina, Writing components are a contributing factor to the amount of administrative work in a course. Course discussions and other personal interactions are also impacted by the number of students in a course. Instructors need to be vigilant with informing administrators that are determining course enrollments of the importance of interaction with students and the amount of time it takes to do that properly in a course. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Managing Learner Behaviors - 2

Matthew, Do you think that the students concerns have merit? I agree that personal communications with any student that has concerns is beneficial. If you can contact them by phone that can be beneficial as e-mail message can sometimes be taken wrong depending on the wording of the message and contents of the message. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

The Optimal Online Student-Instructor Ratio

Marina, Many others identify a ratio of 15:1 or 20:1 range. Too small and it is hard to get good discussions going, too large and just as you note the management and feedback in the course are difficult. Also the content (as you mention writing courses) and the level of the course have an effect on this ratio. Regardless of the actual ratio, it should be designed around providing students with the proper feedback. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Engaging Learners in Discussion

Brian, What are some things that you do in your courses to address procrastination? This is certainly a problem in all courses and even more so in online courses. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

Brian, The more you can personally connect with the students through discussions and other interactive elements of the course the more students will see your "presence." It is about your connection in the course and with the students and how active you are in guiding their learning. Herbert Brown III

Herbert Brown III

Discussion Comment

Instructor Presence

GENIEVE, The 24-hour time frame is pretty consistent among folks teaching online. The key I believe comes in the design of the course. You have to design the instructional activities so that they guide the students learning toward the final outcome desired. The more you can include your own personal examples and allow students to add their personal examples to activities the more personal it becomes for the students. It also ensures that the students are directing their own learning and connecting their learning to previous knowledge. Herbert Brown III

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