About Me
My name is Brandon Hull and I’m an online faculty member at Brigham Young University-Idaho. I have been doing this for five years, teaching sales and marketing classes.
I love learning about how people learn.
I started researching ways to upgrade the learning experience I provide my students immediately after my first semester ended as an instructor. I don’t have a degree in teaching, but I do have a Masters in Organizational Behavior and have been certified as an instructor and facilitator in several different training programs.
This. Better Work. is a free resource for online teachers that demonstrates how you can easily upgrade your video content, making it more engaging so students learn at a deeper level.
This. Better Work. is spelled out that way on purpose. I believe making online learning more entertaining and engaging reflects better work. It’s my way of saying, “This, right here, is better work…”
At the same time, I realize that some online educators struggle with technology. So it reflects the sometimes hopeful, sometimes nervous side of you that says, “This…better work!”
When I knew I needed something like this
My first semester my head was swimming. Can you relate? I needed to get to know 45 students in an asynchronous online classroom, navigate Canvas for the first time, and get a firm command of the material that I only gained access to for the first time four days before classes started.
My immediate objective going into my second semester was to pre-record a lot of my standard content. I wanted to dedicate more time to student outreach and engagement, and of course, grading and personalized feedback. But I wanted that pre-recorded content to be more engaging than the average faculty member does.
I didn’t want to count on modern students, many of whom are adults well into their careers in my case, to read long emails or announcements.
What’s innovative about how we teach at BYU-Idaho is that there is an inspired division of labor. There are full-time expert course designers, course leads, and part-time online faculty like me.
As an online faculty member, I don’t put together the curriculum. I don’t design the week-by-week lessons or assignments. I realize that’s probably not your situation. But you and me both, we’re counted on to bring our material to life with our knowledge and career experiences. BYU-Idaho hires full-time experts in specific areas to serve as part-time, online faculty. They want a current connection to the real world in order to benefit students.
But again…how could I make that content more engaging, given the asynchronous nature of my online classes?
I have the answers for that.
Bringing content to life
I now receive positive feedback every semester from students that my videos add a new depth to their understanding of the material we cover.
Not only that, I actually enjoy creating one-off content for students to deepen their understanding.
So here at This. Better Work. I cover how-tos using a handful of tactics and tools and, separately, share how my office setup — which is admittedly over the top — makes it all easy.
What technology do I use?
We all know PowerPoint. And maybe you’ve heard of or even dabbled with OBS.
But I’m a Mac user. And there are some amazing alternatives out there for us. I introduce you to Ecamm (Mac only), Tella (Mac and Windows), as well as an emerging one I know you haven’t heard of: CueCam Presenter (Mac only).
Each of these apps allows you to create engaging video content that put your content on-par with a news broadcast. They go far beyond the typical screen recording of a PowerPoint or Zoom call. But if you can create a simple PowerPoint or Keynote, or run a Zoom call where you share your screen, you can use these apps. In some ways they are even easier.
If you’ve got questions about any of them, feel free to fill out my contact form. If you’d like to see a specific how-to video that’s not covered here, fill out my feedback form.
About this website
And if you’re curious how I built this website, I didn’t! No Wordpress, no complicated website to design or setup for hosting. I simply connect and update a Google Sheet that is connected to an inexpensive service called Sheetany. You could do something similar for your students.
Thanks for stopping by. Let me know if I can help in any way.
