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| Professor Billy Morris |
Billy Morris is an Associate Professor of Geology at Georgia Highlands College, and has been an instructor with eCore since the very early days of 2001/2002. We talked to Professor Morris about his appreciation for online teaching, how he came to be a geologist, and his life outside of the virtual classroom. (He has a pretty INSANE cookie-baking record!) He's also got some really great advice for online students.
Where
did you complete your degree(s)?
Georgia Southern University and
Emory University.
What
drew you to the field of Geology?
My parents are responsible. They
took me camping and hiking for as long as I can remember, and they liked to
collect things, rocks, fossils, plants, stray animals. It was fun and I haven’t
stopped since. I would not do well in a city or an office, would much rather be
outside. Geology is a way to do that.
Why
did you choose to become a college instructor?
My mom taught college for 40
years and my dad managed the college bookstore, so I grew up around college
students. I find the combination of earth science and the energy of higher education
to be irresistible and gratifying.
What
do you like most about teaching online?
Of course the flexibility of
schedule is great, but the immense amount of visual, graphic, and spatial
information is wonderful for teaching/learning Geology online. Often the class
is made up of students who have or currently live outside the southeast US, and
it’s great fun to hear of their travels and experiences. These students bring a
fresh perspective to the course that can be hard to find in a classroom.
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| Just a little fishing in my spare time... |
What
was your most challenging subject in school, and how did you get through it?
Calculus 2. Persistence - I took
it more than once.
What
do you like to do in your free time?
I have a few acres, a
greenhouse, fruit, nut, berry orchards and a field garden. I like to eat good
food, so I spend a lot of time tending plants and the land. I like to fish,
hunt, camp, hike, climb, but when it comes to the cold wet time of year I move
into the music room and play guitar, mandolin, and keyboards. I just bought a 1960 Hammond tonewheel organ
at Goodwill that’s in amazing condition, so I’m having a concert every night!
What’s
your favorite movie of all time?
Easy – Babe
If you had to
choose a different profession, what would it be?
Captain of charter fishing boat.
If you won the
lottery, what would you do with your winnings?
Pay off the house. Buy a big
sailboat. Leave the rest for the kids.
What is something
interesting about you that your students would be surprised to know?
Where to start?
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| Hitchhiking to Denali National Park in Alaska |
I have officiated two different wedding
ceremonies where I had the honor of joining good friends in marital bliss. In spite of me and to their credit, they’re
still together!
I have an intense relationship
with my youngest daughter on a foosball table. We’re both good, and we take turns
whipping each other. She went to grad school up in Ohio where she learned some
new tricks, but I've had to show her that old age and treachery can beat new
tricks any day.
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| The Annual Fifty Dozen Cookie Day |
What advice do you
have for students taking online classes for the first time?
Get into the course fast and
deep. Check in with your instructor and let your intentions be known. Get all
the required supplies immediately. Set a schedule for completing the coursework
and if it breaks down, let your instructor know right away. You’ll find that
staying on track and in touch is the key to success.
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