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

The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Diana, This is a simple point but very powerful. Often students become overwhelmed and just give up rather than seeking solutions to life challenges as they occur. Coping skills are a must for college students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Hi Marissa, You make a good point about how important the first impression is in a college setting. The time is short and the instruction compressed so a positive first impression gets the class off to a good start and has the students engaged from the very first class meeting. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Learning from Instructor and Student Introductions

Hi Laura, You are right on with your efforts to engage the students and develop rapport with them. Thank you for sharing your strategy for learning their names promptly. As you know this is very important to students and start the rapport building process. This is a good reminder for new instructors. They need to work hard at learning student names quickly,plus the game you play with them helps to make it fun for both them and you. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Ann, This is a good way to improve your instructional delivery as well as expanding your ability to meet the needs of your students. By listening you are showing your willingness to develop as a professional educator. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Motivating Learners

Hi Callie, Well said. You make a number of good points that set the stage for the student learning and engagement. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Being Successful in College

Hi Cornel, I like the way you slowly keep adding different elements to the process as the students work through the problem. They get to see different applications and different ways to approach and solve a problem. This information will help them throughout the course. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Effective Motivation Techniques

Hi Lora, Good way to incorporate the different learning strategies into your presentation. The students start to see the connections you are making and how they apply to their lives plus they stay engaged as a result of these activities. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Increasing Student Retention

Hi Sarah, It is amazing how something that seems natural really impacts a student. By knowing a student's name early in the course that person feels like they are being accepted and made a part of the class. This little things add up to big things like retention and course completion. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Accommodating Learner Preferences

Hi Payel, I like and use case studies in my classes for the same reasons that you have outlined. They really help to engage students and get them thinking about how they can apply their newly acquired knowledge. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Using a Well-prepared Syllabus

Hi Diana, You received some good advice and support from your fellow instructor. The signature sheet will save you so much hassle in the future. Gary

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