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.

Activity

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Accommodating Learner Preferences

Hi Michelle, Graphic organizers, mnemonics and the loci method are three tools that are real effective in helping students to memorize. Also, the use of games that involved repetition work very well. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Reasons for Enrolling

Hi Sarah, This is a very important point. Failure as you say is easy to achieve and the more you do it the easier it gets. So to provide support and encouragement to these students really helps them to see that they have a future if they will complete their program. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructor REFOCUS

Hi Lora, Thank you for these great comments. I really appreciate the strategies that was recommended by Archbishop Sheen. The use of new notes keeps both the content and the instructor fresh. I really enjoy planning for class and by looking at the content with fresh eyes the planning process takes on new meaning. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Teaching to Multiple Intelligences

Hi Jennifer, Well said. This is why I like the use of MI as well. I have been researching MI for the past 25 years and have developed an assessment that identifies the three strongest MI areas. By knowing these areas I can better plan my instruction that will target their areas but also help them to learn how to use their other areas as well. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Accommodating Learner Preferences

Hi Kerry, This is a great combination that you are using in your teaching. Extensive personal experience and success stories from graduates. This sets the stage for motivation and excitement for the students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Marie, I think that the use of PowerPoint in the delivery of text can get the results from the students just as you describe them. What I have found is that through the use of graphics, videos, and pictures I can effectively keep the students engaged in learning while using PP. It is like any other form of media it has to be used correctly and not as a crutch. Unfortunately in many situations it has and is being used as if it were a page from the textbook only being shown on the screen. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Using a Well-prepared Syllabus

Hi Dana, Thank you for sharing how your college approaches the use of the syllabus. As you know a well prepared syllabus can do much to set the stage and well as inform the students about what is going to occur. This reduces frustration and anxiety so they can focus on what they must do to be successful. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Reasons for Enrolling

Hi Kristen, This is a great way of making the course content real. You are showing and making application of math in a variety of settings so the students can see how math "DOES" apply to their education and career future. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Defining Instructional Professionalism

Hi Robert, Such an important point and so well said. Thank you for sharing these comments with us. This is what instructional leadership is all about and as you say we can never forget it. We are the standard from which our students are measuring the field. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Defining Instructional Professionalism

Hi Claudia, Keep those high standards as well as your professional attitude. You are the model of what a person in your career area should be like. Your students can study with you, learn from you and then reflect from you what a career professional should be like. This is what teaching is all about. I wish you much success as an instructor. Gary

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