Director, National Centre for Teaching and Learning

Director, Distance Education and Learning Futures Alliance

The information below describes some of my roles and responsibilities at Massey University along with a range of my professional activities and scholarly publications. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance. I particularly welcome enquiries from staff, prospective doctoral candidates and agencies and institutions wanting to make use of my expertise and consultation services.

Major work areas

Blended Learning, Distance Education, Online Learning, e-Learning, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Academic Development, Teaching and Learning Development, Quality Enhancement, Leadership, Education Policy, Lifelong Learning.

Some highlights

Mark has a long history of innovation in teaching, recognised by several awards:

• Apple Distinguished Educator
• Massey Scholar
• Vice-Chancellor’s Award for TeachingExcellence
• National Tertiary Teaching Award for Sustained Excellence

He has also been successful in winning several grants from the Fund for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching with a combined total of over $100,000. In 2008, Mark accepted on behalf of Massey University the New Zealand Open Source Education Award for his involvement in the development of the Mahara eportfolio system. In 2007, Mahara was recognised with an IMS Global Award for the Best ePortfolio System. Professor Brown has received a number of citations for research publications and has been involved in external research contracts with a combined budget of over $2.3 million.

Mark serves on the following committees and working groups at Massey University:

• Academic and International Executive Team
• Teaching and Learning Committee
• Stream Board
• Technology-enhanced Learning Committee - Chair
• University Equipment Committee
• Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Awards Committee - Chair
• Vice-Chancellor’s Symposium Committee- Chair
• International Policy & Strategy Advisory Committee (IPSAC)
• One Health World Bank Management Group
• TE@M - Teaching Think Tank
• Digital Learning Resources Management Group

Outside of Massey University, Mark is active on a number of committees and professional organisations:

• DEHub Steering Committee
• National Centre for Excellence in Tertiary Teaching (Ako Aotearoa) Reference Group
• Australasian Council for Open, Distance and eLearning (ACODE)
• Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching Excellence Academy
• Vice-President and Executive Member of Distance Education Association of New Zealand (DEANZ)
• Executive Member of Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCiLiTE)
• European eLearning Association Committee

Current research & teaching interests

Professor Brown's main research interests lie in the areas of teaching and learning development along with blended learning and distance education. He has a particular interest in learning design, the nature of teachers’ work, and the forces and tensions underlying educational policy. In addition, Mark has a keen interest in the use of eportfolios for the promotion of life-long learning. A notable feature of Mark's research is his deliberate effort to ensure work is globally connected but also locally relevant. Although originally much of Dr Brown's work focused on the compulsory schooling sector, his research interests have increasingly shifted to the use of technology-enhanced learning in the tertiary and higher education sectors.

Mark has previously been centrally involved in a number of large externally funded research and development projects, including a study of the future of teaching and learning, an analysis of international elearning policy, the development of an open source eportfolio (Mahara), and the design and implementation of a new formative assessment tool. Currently, Mark is centrally involved in a major externally funded distance education project which focuses on the readiness and success of distance learners. He is also supporting a number of research studies on the use and implementation of Massey University’s new virtual learning environment, and serves on the Steering Committee of DEHub.

Research supervision

Mark is available to supervise doctoral students in the areas of blended learning, distance education and the use of technology-enhanced learning in educational settings from early years to tertiary education. He has successfully supervised to completion over 50 research theses and dissertations and currently supervises four doctoral candidates. He invites potential doctoral students to contact him to discuss their research

Contribution to research:

Professor Brown serves on several journal editorial and review boards, including:

• Computers in New Zealand Schools
• ALT-J Research in Learning Technology
• Journal of Further and Higher Education
• International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
• International Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
• Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology
• Educational Media International
• Global Journal of Enterprise Information System
• Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education

He is also active on a number of International Conference Committees, including:

• Program Committee for the European Conference on e-Learning.
• Program Committee for International Conference on Computer Supported Education
• Program Committee for the IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT)
• Program Committee for International Ed-Media Conference. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education
• International Program Committee for E-Learn: World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, & Higher Education Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education
• International Program Committee for the International Conference on Education and Technology (ICET)
• Convener of the Distance Education Association of New Zealand Conference Committee, Te Papa, Wellington, 25-28th April, 2010
• National University Technology Network 2011 Virtual Conference Committee - Co-chair
• Association of Learning Technology Conference Committee

Selected publications:

Brown, M. (2012). Selection and implementation of an open source Learning Management System. Invited presentation at the 2^nd Annual eLearning Summit, Sydney, 27-28^th February.

Brown, M., Cage, K., Rullan, S., & Thompson, J. (2012). Third generation teaching and learning development: An integrated service framework for supporting online, blended and distance education. Paper presented at Distance Education Association of New Zealand (DEANZ) Conference, Wellington, 13^th April.

Brown, M., Hughes, H., Shillington, S., Hard, N., Keppell, M., & Smith, L. (2012). Life happens: Experiences of first-time distance learners. Paper presented at Distance Education Association of New Zealand (DEANZ) Conference, Wellington, 11^th April.

Brown, M., & Elliot, A. (2012). Supporting them to do it: Insights into the beliefs and experiences of beginning teachers. Paper presented at the 3^rd International Conference on Teaching and Learning with Technology. Singapore, 30^th March.

Brown, M., Hughes, H., Hard, N., Keppell, M., & Smith, L. (2012). Enhancing the supports and services for first-time distance learners. DE Quarterly, 9, p.7-8.

Childs, M., Brown, M., Hard, N., Hunter, C., Keppell, M. (2012). Building understanding of learning leadership, innovation and institutional change in blended and flexible and open and distance education. DE Quarterly, 9, p.4-5.

Milne, M., & Brown, M. (2012). How are teachers using rich media to enhance distance. Paper presented at Distance Education Association of New Zealand (DEANZ) Conference, Wellington, 13^th April.

Norman, L. Vink, D., Laven, L., & Brown, M. (2012). Taking higher education offshore: Opening access and promoting development. Paper presented at Distance Education Association of New Zealand (DEANZ) Conference, Wellington, 13^th April.

Shillington, S., Brown, M., MacKay, A., Paewai, S., Suddaby, G., & While, F. (2012). Avoiding the goulash: Closing  gaps and bridging distances. Open Learning: Journal of Open, Distance and eLearning, 27, (1), 65-80.

Symonds, S., Jamieson, A., Brown, M., & Tait, S. (2012). Video conferencing not… developing a new model of video-linked teaching. Paper presented at Distance Education Association of New Zealand (DEANZ) Conference, Wellington, 13^th April.

Taipjutorus, W., Hansen, S., & Brown, M. (2012). Investigating a relationship between learner control and self-efficiacy in an online learning environment. Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, 16 (1), 56-69.

Ryan, Y., & Brown, M. (2011). National quality assurance guidelines and polices for distance education in Australia and New Zealand (chapter 9). In I. Jung, & C. Latchem, Quality assurance and accreditation in distance education and e-learning: Models, policies and research. London: Routledge.

Brown, M. E. (2011). Standing up for teaching: The ‘crime’ of striving for excellence. Journal of Pedagogic Development, 2, 52-57.

Bossu, C., Brown, M., & Bull, D. (2011). Playing catch-up: Investigating public and institutional policies for OER practices in Australia. Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, 15 (2), 41-54.

Brown, M., Hughes, H., Hard, N., Keppell, M., Shillington, S. & Smith. E. (2011). Lights, camera, action: Gathering experiences of first time distance learners. Paper presented at the Ascilite Conference. In G. Williams, N. Brown, M. Pittard, B. Cleland (Eds.) Changing Demands, Changing Directions. Proceedings, 4-7 December, Hobart. (pp.194-199).

Walker, R.J., Brown, M.E., Moore, C., & Hughes, H. (2011). The move to Moodle: Perspective of academics in a College of Business. Paper presented at the Ascilite Conference. In G. Williams, N. Brown, M. Pittard, B. Cleland (Eds.) Changing Demands, Changing Directions. Proceedings, 4-7 December, Hobart. (pp.1275-1280).

Child, M., Keppell, M., Brown, M., Hunter, C., Hard, N. Hughes, H. (2011). Fostering institutional change through learning leadership – a study of stories of adaptation in blended and flexible learning and distance education. Paper presented at the Ascilite Conference. In G. Williams, N. Brown, M. Pittard, B. Cleland (Eds.) Changing Demands, Changing Directions. Proceedings, 4-7 December, Hobart. (pp.220-226).

Brown, M., & Day, I. (2011). The new face of internationalization: Distance education for today’s socially wired and globally connected world. Paper presented at 7^th QS Asia Pacific Professional Leaders in Education (Apple) conference, 16-18^th November, Manila.

Brown, M.E. (2011). Quality enhancement in teaching and learning strategy. The 3^rd Annual New Zealand Tertiary Education Summit. 28^th & 29^th November, Wellington.

Shillington, S., Brown, M., MacKay, A., & Paewai, S. (2011). Real-world skills for real-world people: The case for rural broadband. Paper presented at the Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) Rural Broadband Symposium, 8-9 November, Taupo.

Brown, M. (2011). All black and blended: Broken promises and serious challenges. Invited keynote presentation at the National Teaching and Learning Conference, 14-16 October, Nelson.

Bull, D., Bossu, C., & Brown, M. (2011). Gathering the evidence: The use, adoption and development of open educational resources in Australia. Paper presented at the Expanding horizons – new approaches to open and distance learning. 24^th International Council for Distance Education world conference on open and distance learning, 2-5 October, Nusa Dua Bali, Indonesia.

Brown, M. , Shillington, S., Mackay, A., & Paewai, S. (2011). Beyond the retention goulash: Supporting the transition of distance learners. Paper presented at Broad participation, diverse futures, UTL Futures Conference, 14-15 September, Armidale.

Elliot, A., & Brown, M. (2011). It’s the way the world is going: Beginning teachers’ beliefs bout ICT in schools. Paper (no 645) presented at British Educational Research Association, London, 6-8^th September.

Brown, M., Argyle, R., Kendall, L., & Sandbrook, P. (2011). Saving money or adding value? What students say about the move to digital learning resources. Paper presented at European Distance and eLearning Network (EDEN) Conference. 20^th June, Dublin.

Brown, M., & Bossu, C. (2011). Open educational resources (OERs) in Australia: A cross sector environmental scan. Pecha Kucha presentation presented at EdMedia World Conference on Educational Media and Technology, 29^th June, Lisbon. 

Brown, M., Mackay, A., Shillington, S., Paewai., S., Suddaby, G., & White, F. (2011). Bridging the distance: Enhancing the success of distance learners. Paper presented at EdMedia World Conference on Educational Media and Technology, 28^th June, Lisbon.

Brown, M., & Walker, R. (2011). Building a rich digital learning culture: Insights from the student experience in a College of Business. Full paper presented at EdMedia World Conference on Educational Media and Technology, 28^th June, Lisbon.

Brown, M., & Day, I. (2011). Expanding the reach of internationalisation: Delivering untethered learning for today’s globally connected world. Paper presented at QS-Maple Conference, Dubai, 1-2^nd May.

Suddaby, G., & Brown, M. (2011). Peer review: Promoting a quality culture. Paper presented at IADIS International Conference Information Systems. Avila, Spain, 11-13 March.

Brown, M. (2011). Distance education in Aotearoa / New Zealand: Challenges and opportunities. Invited keynote presentation at Education Summit 2011 – 2021: Global challenges and perspectives of blended and distance learning. Sydney, 15th February.

Brown, M. (2011). Helicopter view of Distance Education: The new face of internationalization. Invited presentation at Education Summit 2011 – 2021: Global challenges and perspectives of blended and distance learning. Sydney, 15th February.

Brown, M., Day, I., & O’Hara, D. (2011). Beyond the technology bungy: Designing untethered learning for today’s socially wired distance students. Symposium at Education Summit 2011 – 2021: Global challenges and perspectives of blended and distance learning. Sydney, 17th February.

Brown, M., Paewai, S., & Suddaby, G. (2010). The VLE as a Trojan Mouse: Policy, politics and pragmatism. Electronic Journal of e-Learning, 8 (2), 63-72.

Brown, M. Day, I., & van Zyl, H. (2010). Breaking free of the technology bungy: Delivering untethered learning for today’s socially wired world. Paper presented at National University Technology Network, Colorado Springs, 29th September.

Brown, M. (2010). Up stream, down stream and out of stream: Institutional challenges of redesigning for blended learning. Paper presented at Association of Learning Technology Conference (ALT-C), Nottingham, 9th September.

Elliot, A., & Brown, M. (2010). The beginning teacher and ICT: Impact of the school context. Paper presented at New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE) Annual Conference, Auckland, 9th December.

Milne, J., Brown, M., Charbonneau, J., & Macpherson, T. (2010). What’s the difference between campus and distance students’ use of a learning management system? Paper presented at Reshaping Higher Education HERDSA Conference, Melbourne, 8th July.

Brown, M. (2010). University in transition: A case study of redesigning for blended learning. Paper presented at Ed- Media, World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications. Toronto, 28 June.

Brown, M., & Stewart, T. (2010). Designing for learning: An online scenario for pedagogical conversations. Paper presented at EdMedia, World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications. Toronto, 2 July.

Stewart, T., Flint, S., & Brown, M. (2010). Fast, flexible and value for money? Trialing a “Virtual lab” in a food safety microbiology course. Paper presented at Global Learn Asia Pacific Conference (pp. 4097 – 4102). Penang, Malaysia, 17-20 May.

Datt, A., Brown, M., Gunn, C. (2010). Walking the talk: Challenges designing and implementing online professional development in elearning. Paper presented at Quality Connections – Boundless Possibilities: Through Open, Flexible and Distance Learning. Distance Education Association of New Zealand Conference (DEANZ), Wellington 25-28th April.

Milne, J., Brown, M., Charbonneau, J., & MacPherson, T. (2010). Love it or hate it? What undergraduate business students say about blended learning. Paper presented at Quality Connections – Boundless Possibilities: Through Open, Flexible and Distance Learning. Distance Education Association of New Zealand Conference (DEANZ), Wellington 25-28th April.

Mackay, A., Shillington, S., Paewai, S., Brown, M., Suddaby, G., & White, F. (2010). Bridging the distance: Achievement and success for distance learners. Paper presented at Quality Connections – Boundless Possibilities: Through Open, Flexible and Distance Learning. Distance Education Association of New Zealand Conference (DEANZ), Wellington 25-28th April.

Stewart, T., Brown, M., & Weatherstone, A. (2009). Interactive scenario design: The value of flow charts and schemas in developing scenario-based lessons. Journal of Distance Education, 13, 22-31.

Brown, M., & Stewart, T. (2009). Finding your own blend: An online scenario for conversations about learning. Paper presented at the Future of Online and Blended Learning Conference, Vancouver, 24th Oct.

Brown, M. (2009). The crime of teaching excellence. New Zealand Education Review, 14 (14), 17 April, 9-10.

Roder, J., & Brown, M. (2009). What leading educators say about Web 2.0, PLEs and e-portfolios in the future. Paper presented at the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE) Conference (pp. 870-882).

Stewart, T., & Brown, M. (2009). To spray or not to spray? A scenario-based exercise for tertiary-level horticultural students. Paper presented at the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE) Conference (pp. 1023-1027).

Brown, M., Paewai, S., & Suddaby, G. (2009). Moodle as a Trojan mouse: Policy, politics and pragamtism. Paper presented at the 8th European Conference on eLearning, Bari, Italy, 28th Oct.

Brown, M. (2009). Deep reflection and constructive alignment: The challenge of translating theory into practice. Proceedings of Eportfolio 2009: London Forum. 22-24th June.

Brown, M. (2009). The crime of teaching excellence. New Zealand Education Review, 14 (14), 9-10.

Brown, C.A., Black, T., Brown, M.E., Henare, E., Houla, W., & Roa, T. (2009). Te Reo Måori systems translations and processes: e-Learning in Aotearoa for the tertiary sector. Final report to Ako Aotearoa - National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence, Wellington.

Brown, M., & Stewart, T. (2009). The game of ethics: An ethical misadventure for blended delivery. Proceedings of the International Conference on Blended Learning. University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield: UK. 17-18th June.

Brown, M. (2009). Invited keynote address at eLearning event: CampusMoodle. The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland. 11th June.

Brown, M. (2009). Learning can be fun: Combining low-tech teaching methods with hi-tech elearning to promote critical reflection. Proceedings of the M-2009, International Council for Distance Education (ICDE) Conference, Maastricht: Holland. 7-10th June.

Brown, M., & Suddaby, G. (2009). Policy, politics and pragmatism: Making the case for a new learning management system. Proceedings of the M-2009, International Council for Distance Education (ICDE) Conference, Maastricht: Holland. 7-10th June.

Brown, M. (2008). Interactive learning environments: Review of an old construct with a new critical twist. In J. Voogt and G. Knezek (eds.), International Handbook of Information Technology in primary and secondary education (pp. 231-248). USA: Springer.

Brown, M. (2008). Foreword. In T. S. Roberts (Ed.), Student plagiarism in an online world: Problems and solutions (pp. xvi-xviii). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.

Anderson, B., Brown, M., & Murray, F. (2008). Learning in the digital age: Are the ways we learn changing with the use of educational technologies? In A. St.George, S. Brown, & J. O’Neill, (Eds.). Facing the big questions in teaching: Purpose, power and learning. Melbourne, Vic.: Cengage Learning.

Brown, M., Anderson, B., Murray, F., Simpson, M. (2008). Patterns in elearning policy (2000 to 2005). Lessons from a global analysis. Paper presented at IADIS International eLearning Conference, 22 to 25th July, Amsterdam.

Brown, M. (2008). The end of an era: All good things come to an end. Computers in New Zealand Schools, 20 (3), 2.

Brown, M., Stewart, T., & O'Neill, J. (2008). "Is that ethical?" : Developing an ethical misadventure for research training. NZARE Conference 24-27th Nov, Palmerston North.

Elliot, A., & Brown, M. (2008). Why teachers don't exploit ICT in schools: An insights into the problem of beginning teacher induction. Paper presented at Technology Learning Spaces: International Conference on ICT in Teaching and Learning, 7-8 July, Hong Kong.

Brown, M.E. (2007). Schools out: Looking back to the future. Invited keynote address to the annual PPTA conference, Wellington, 25 September.

Brown, M., Anderson, B., & Murray, F. (2007). E-learning policy issues: Global trends, themes and tensions. Paper presented at the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCLITE) Conference, Singapore, 2-5 Dec.

Brown, M., & Stratford, R. (2007). Looking back to the future: Lessons from the history of educational computing. Paper presented at the Information Technology in Teacher Education Annual Conference, Leicester, 13 July.

Elliot, A., & Brown, M. (2007). Beyond pre-service teacher education: What happens when new teachers meet ICT in primary classrooms? Paper presented at the 35th Australian Teacher Education Association Conference, Wollongong, 5 July.

Brown, M., & Murray, F. (2006). ICT and young children: Laying the foundations for the digital future. Computers in New Zealand Schools, 18 (2), 42-48.

Anderson, B., Brown, M., Murray, F., Simpson, M., & Mentis, M. (2006). Global picture, local lessons: E-learning policy and accessibility. Report to the Ministry of Education. Massey University College of Education, Palmerston North.

Brown, M., & Murray, F. (2006). A case of conflict: Thinking differently about teacher learning. Paper presented at Australian Computers in Education Conference, 3 October, Cairns.

Brown, M., & Murray, F. (2006). Thinking differently: Preparing critically informed hi-tech teachers. Paper presented at the International Conference of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia, 10 July, Perth.

Brown, M., Vossler, K., & Murray, F. (2006). Let’s get digital: Redesigning pre-service teacher education from the ground up. Paper presented at the Australian Teacher Education Association Conference, 8 July, Fremantle.

Brown, M. (2005). Telling tales out of school: The political nature of the digital landscape. In K-W Lai (ed.), e-Learning communities: Teaching and learning with the Web (pp. 23-38). Dunedin: Otago University Press.

Brown, M. (2005). The growth of enterprise pedagogy: How ICT policy is infected by neo-liberal ideology. Australian Journal of Educational Computing, 20 (2), 16-22.

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Last updated on Saturday 21 April 2012