Gary Meers, Ed.D.

About me

I am an Education Advisor/Consultant for MaxKnowledge. I write courses that assist in the professional development of career college instructors. These courses range in content from the introductory level to advanced instructional development. I started my teaching career as an instructional technology teacher on the high school level, completed graduate school and then moved into higher education. I spent many years in the area of teacher training at the University of Nebraska. While at the University of Nebraska I stared working with career college instructors to improve their instructional delivery skills. As a result of these experiences I have been a consultant to career colleges throughout the United States and a number of foreign countries.

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Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Expanding Your Instructional Abilities

Hi John, This is a key point. We need to remember our experiences as students both good and bad and then plan our instructional delivery from those experiences. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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The Human Factor in Retention

Hi Linda, I commend you for the personal touch and support you give your students. They are dealing with many different life situations while still trying to be successful students so knowing they have a caring supportive instructor greatly increases their desire to be successful and complete their schooling. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Student Motivation Factors

Hi Scott, Students do appreciate support which in turn increases their motivation to be successful. They know they have an instructor that cares about their success which helps them to want to put forth more effort throughout the course. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Learning from Instructor and Student Introductions

Hi Margaret, This is such a great asset in the development of students. If they can learn how to improve their oral communication skills they are going to be much better positioned to advance in their career areas. Great to hear about the connection that the students make with each other during the first speech. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Making Your Expectations Clear

Hi Nancy, I have a handout similar to yours. I want my students to see the importance that I attach to certain course requirements like attendance, and meeting assignment deadlines. I put these requirements on one page and the I run it on colored paper. Generally I use something really bright so I get their attention with the color. We go over the requirements and then I have them put the handout with their syllabus. This way as I look at their notebooks and course packets throughout the course I can see the bright sheet in the stack. Every so… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Preparing and Delivering Effective Lectures

Hi Cheryl, Using your own education experiences that came out of your ADHD disability is a great way to relate and understand your students. You have lived it so you know how to structure and pace your instructional delivery to keep your students engaged and focused. Keep up the good work. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Expanding Your Instructional Abilities

Hi Cheryl, You have a great approach to making foundational knowledge enjoyable to learn. English is essential for all of us to be effective in our careers. Like your misplaced modifier example. My favorite is "was introduced to a man with one eye, named Marvin". Always have wondered what was the name of his other eye? Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Your Instructional Style

Hi Sandra, This is a good point because this brings balance into the classroom. This way the students have an opportunity throughout the course to use their preferences while learning how to take in information through other avenues. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Your Instructional Style

Hi Linsey, Good question because of just what you said about not wanting to wear out your students with your feedback requests. I ask for feedback after the completion of a major project, activity or group exercise. I make it very simple and quick. I give each student a 3X5 card and ask them to make any comments about the just completed effort. I don't ask "what you liked or didn't like" because I don't want to set any parameters to their responses. They are very candid and I have not had any student over the years vent. They are… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Accommodating Learner Preferences

Hi Dania, In teaching science to non-science majors what has been some of your most successful strategies for getting them engaged and excited about the subject? Our instructors are always looking for strategies that will work with students that have to take required courses out of their field. Thanks. Gary

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