Instructor: Mr. Brian Burton

Originally from a small farm outside of Anderson, Indiana, I started my academic career at Ball State University (known for David Letterman) studying Management Information Systems and Educational Psychology. I worked in University Computer Services starting as a student employee repairing computers and working my way up to supervising computer maintenance and installation for the campus.

In 1990, I moved my family to Abilene, Texas (known for dust storms and mesquite trees) to study Secondary Education, Business Administration, with a minor in Computer Science at Abilene Christian University. I also completed some graduate work in Church Doctrine & History and Pastoral Counseling (the real reason I went to Abilene!). After graduating with my B.S., we moved back to Indiana, where I worked various really odd jobs.

Since then I have been working in education, either as a middle/high school teacher, a director of technology or as college faculty. Over the years I have collected the following degrees:

B.S. in Secondary Education and Business Administration - Abilene Christian University

M.S. in Educational Administration - Missouri State University

Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis - University of Missouri - Columbia (ABD)

I have been teaching at Missouri State University since 1998, and full time since 1999. I have been at the West Plains campus since December of 2003. I have always taught computers, even in high school when I belonged to a Junior Achievement company that taught how to use a computer to elementary students on Apple IIe's (ahh.. the 80's!). We were the first place service company internationally! My favorite topics to teach are programming, graphics/game programming, active web content, and using technology in education.