Dr. S. David Vaillancourt

Dr. S. David Vaillancourt

About me

Dr. S. David Vaillancourt currently serves as the Vice President of Academic Affairs for the College of Health Care Professions based in Houston, Texas. Prior to this post he worked as an e-Learning consultant for companies across the USA. His primary research focus over the past four years has been the development of online learning Engagement Metrics. Dr. Vaillancourt’s 27 years of service in education includes multiple levels of experience in both private and public educational institutions. His professional positions include Online Campus President for Virginia College, National Dean of ITT's Online Division, Director of Education for Ultimate Medical Academy, President of a two-campus allied health college in Utah, Certified Cisco Academy Instructor, Master Certified Novell Instructor, and K-12 public school science teacher.

Dr. Vaillancourt’s BS and MS in Education were earned from Samford University in 1983 and 1989, respectively. He completed his Ed.D. in Instructional Technology and Distance Education from Nova Southeastern University in May 2004. Dr. Vaillancourt designed, founded and chaired the non-profit National Math Bee (2006-2011), which provided an online learning community for over 15,000 elementary school mathematics students in 37 states across the country.  He was a US Army soldier prior to his career in education.

Activity

Louise, Your institution's cap of 25 students is lower than many I have encountered, but research is emerging to support it. My experience finds 30 students per section is a popular number among institutions, but it may be a little high for optimal student-student interactivity. Student numbers of 15-20 per section are likely to be optimal for many technical classess. Certainly, these would be desired by the instructors. Thank you for your contribution.
Kelli, Well said. Do you have any examples of the differences in 'mode' and/or 'methods' you indicated? Thank you for your contribution.
Kelli, All of these are solid strategies that are used by many good online teachers. These are a great foundation for any online teacher's 'bag of tricks' to assist students. Model the behavior you expect and be available are two of the strongest. Nice job!
Gary, Your observations about student critical thinking are echoed by many postsecondary instructors. I applaud your requirement for rationale to engage students at a deeper level than they make be accustomed. How do you handle pushback from the students, if you receive it? Thank you for your contribution.
Gary, I can 'see' the vision you descibed. The possibilities with virtual reality setups within the home have a fairly unrestricted future. Many of the existing technologies that cost millions will likely become department store purchases in a couple of decades. Look at the Wii and think of future developments based on this combined with other computer technologies.
Terry, The scrutiny of getting 'value' in education is definitely a visible issue in our culture. What kind of expectations should faculty convey to their students at the beginning of an online class to best add value to the educational experience for the student?
Terry, You're probably right for at least the next several decades. The f2f human interaction maintains a certain quality that is substantial for many folks. Undergraduate campus life is certainly something I would not give up, if I had it to do over again.
Terry, Many students really do like the f2f help when it is available, which is not often. I'm sure you already observe this, but I would like to caution all that these types of meetings require substantial safety measures, if they are used. I like your dedication.
Terry, Antonio does have a strong approach. Your comment allowing students to know you can empathize with them is a solid way to help them, also. Can you think of any additional insights?
Kelli, I personnaly agree with the desire for the social aspects of college life. I fondly remember my own undergraduate years. The changes in socialization dynamics over the Internet seem to be shifting human activity away from the traditional activities. Do you think two or three generations from now this trend will drastically change? Thank you for your insights.

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