Instructor Information

David Gerth, Associate Professor of Business Management

Contact Information

Education

• Doctoral Studies in Education, Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee, 2003 - Present

• M.B.A., Brigham Young University. Provo, Utah, 1977

• B.E. in Engineering Science (cum laude), Vanderbilt University. Nashville, Tennessee, 1972

• Professional Teaching Certificate in Mathematics, Tennessee State University. Nashville, Tennessee, 1982

• High School Diploma (Honors), Battle Ground Academy. Franklin, Tennessee, 1968

Teaching Experience

• August 1999 - Present  Business Management Instructor, Nashville State Community College, Nashville, Tennessee

  • Taught Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Management Applications, Business Statistics, Human Resource Management, Principles of Management, and Introduction to Business.

• August 1997 - May 1999 High School Mathematics Teacher

  • Taught Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, and Algebra II to students in grades 8-12.

Educational Philosophy

I take much of my educational philosophy from Eric Jensen, a proponent of brain-based teaching and learning, John Dewey, John Carroll, Benjamin Bloom, Jerome Bruner, and Lev Vygotsky. I believe good education is student-centered. It should factor in individual differences and diversity. Normally, all students can learn. The difference is in their learning rates. Whenever possible, learning activities should be structured so that students can progress at their rate of learning and master the curriculum. I agree with deep, engaging, and challenging learning. I think that less higher-order learning is better than more lower-order rote memorization of information and drill and practice. Ideally students should be intrinsically-motivated, disciplined, creative, and cooperative and possess excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills. The arts, movement, strong standards, authentic assessment, and student choice are elements of a good education. The curriculum should empower students with the abilities to learn independently and in groups, to think, to lead, and to communicate. An ideal education integrates technology and multicultural education across the curriculum. Students learn when their curiosity is satisfied. Experience is the best teacher. Students learn by doing, reflecting on their experiences, and writing about them. Learning activities should take these things into account. Effective learning oftentimes includes a social element. The interaction among students and instructors can be critical to the student's development. I agree with the constructivist learning approach. Learners construct knowledge by working to solve realistic problems in collaboration with others. The curriculum should put emphasis on open-mindedness, cooperation, and human dignity.

Professional Experience

• Worked in small or large business environments for approximately twenty years.

• Experienced in a variety of functional areas: light production, design, purchasing and operations; accounting including payroll, cash management and accounts payable; customer service and sales; and human resource management.

• Was a principal and part-owner of a small business for many years.

Organization Memberships

• Phi Kappa Phi honor society

• Kappa Beta Delta business honor society

• Past-member of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations

College Committee Participation

• Member of the Assessment and Planning Council

• Member of the Computer Literacy Committee

• Member of the Critical Thinking Committee

• Member of the Advisory Committee of Kappa Beta Delta, Nashville State Chapter

• Member of the ADA Committee

• Past member of Faculty Senate

• Past member and Chair of the NS Online Committee

• Past member of the Crisis Plan Committee

• Past member of the Curriculum Committee

Foreign Language Skills

• Brazilian Portuguese

• Thai (Thailand)