ntspring2016

NORTHERN NEWS

Q&A Assistant Professor of E-Learning Greg Francom

Hometown: Provo, Utah Family: Misty (my better half ), Sabrina (my 11-year-old sunshine), Clara (my 9-year-old sweetheart), Jacob (the 6-year-old handsome boy), and Katherine (our little princess, 3) Title and involvement at NSU: Assistant Professor of E-Learning – I teach classes about distance learning and educational technology, and prepare teachers to integrate technology into learning activities. Q. How long have you worked at NSU? A. I have worked at NSU since 2011. Q. What brought you to Northern? A. I was living in Georgia and was looking for work opportunities that would be closer to my home in Utah, but would also provide me with great opportunities to make a difference. I found that here.

Q. What is the best part of your job? A. The students. I like to present new ideas, concepts and technologies in ways that help students learn and grow. I like the first day of the semester and when I start joking with them and they don’t know if I am joking or not. Q. What is your favorite class to teach and why? A. ELRN 385 - Educational Technology and Distance Teaching. I get to help prepare teachers to be successful in their classrooms. There is no work that is more important for our future. Q. What is the best career advice you have ever received? A. Find something that you like to do, but also find something that you can do to make a difference. Q. What advice would you like to share with students?

A. Learning is hard. It’s supposed to be that way. So it’s okay if you don’t have the right answer. Don’t be embarrassed or silent just because you don’t know. Think about it, try to figure it out on your own, but if you can’t then don’t be too shy to say you don’t know. Q. Are you involved with any organizations outside of work you want to mention? A. I currently serve as bishop of our local congregation in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), so that keeps me busy on weekends. I work to prepare church services on Sunday and help out people who are struggling. I am also involved with various professional organizations within K-12 education and the educational technology field. Q. Do you have any hobbies you want to mention? A. I play guitar and volleyball, not at the same time.

NORTHERN TODAY 8 SPRING 2016