Lessons Learned from the First Blended Learning Program

Speaker:  David Brown
                Adjunct Assistant Professor
                Division of Environment and Sustainability

Venue:  Room 6558 (Lifts 27-28)

Workshop Overview:

In this presentation, Prof David Brown will share the lessons he learnt from the first and second implementation of his blended learning course (ENVR 3003 - Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency). In particular, his experience and rationale in (re)designing the major online components and the in-class activities.

Since this was one of the early fully Blended Learning courses, CEI helped to review eleven of the twenty six lessons. As the course progressed some opportunities for improvement became evident and these were defined, clarified and quantified in great detail by the CEI review team.

I will share these opportunities, together with their upgrades and consequential improvements to teaching and learning in the second course taught in the Blended learning mode. I will also discuss the acceptance of, and barriers faced in Blended Learning by students.

About the Speaker:

David's passion for energy conservation started in 1964 when he built a solar water heater as his high school project.

He graduated in Mechanical Engineering and continued in energy management designing mobile power generation systems and later air-conditioning for commercial buildings.

In 1976 he designed and built his first 'Green Home' in Brisbane Australia. The passive design kept the house cool in summer and warm in winter without the use of air-conditioning.

Later, as Fleet Manager of a government department he was able to reduce the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 40% of the large fleet of cars, trucks, tractors and construction machinery.

He completed his MBA in 1996 and formed his consultancy company, "Sustainable Business Solutions".

David Joined the Business Environment Council as Head of the Buildings and Energy Efficiency division in Hong Kong where his team monitored and certified Hong Kong's green buildings under the BEAM certification program.

He contributed to the establishment of the Hong Kong Green Building Council and BEAM Pro training and certification program.

David has also conducted Energy Audits to advise companies on how to reduce their energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

As Adjunct Assis. Professor, he now teaches a "Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency" course at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

His present voluntary roles include:

• Energy Review committee at UST
• Energy Advisor– Friends of the Earth, HK
• Co-chair Research Development and Strategy committee – Friends of the Earth, HK
• High Performance Buildings committee at UST

He also volunteers and shares his career skills with charities in Australia, and Nepal.

All Faculty Members and Teaching Staff are welcome

*Light refreshment will be served

For HKUST staff, please click here to register.

For enquiries, please contact Miss Phoebe Mok (2358-6297, phoebe.mok@ust.hk).

Organized by:

Center for Education Innovation (CEI)