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

Instructor REFOCUS

Hi James, Instructors do have a lot of demands on their time but they can read the dynamics of the class and make adjustments as needed or know they are meeting the needs of students through ongoing feedback. Give students 3x5 cards and have them write their opinions of the most recently completed project or activity. They will give accurate and informative input which helps the instructor while feeling more a part of the class because their input is solicited and valued. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Your Expectations Clear

Hi Andre, Right you are. By being repetitive you help to reinforce the foundational knowledge needed by the students to be successful in the course. Keep up the good work. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Learning from Instructor and Student Introductions

Hi Linda, This information can really help you plan how you will approach a new class and plan your instructional strategy. As you know the class dynamics change each time we start a new group of students so the more we know about the students the more accurately we can plan. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Developing Student Rapport

Hi Juanita, Right you are. Often a student needs both to be successful in a class. The needed support helps students to stay on course and complete their education. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Effective Retention Strategies

Hi Jared, These are great points about student retention. They have to become engaged in the learning process and have a sense of ownership in what is going on. This is what ROI is all about for students. The open dialog strategy is one that pays off in many ways. Students appreciate that they are being listened to and that their opinions are valued. This goes a long way in establishing rapport with students and helped them to be forward focused in their learning. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Accommodating Learner Preferences

Hi Eric, I make most of my activities up myself. I analyze the material and then decide on would be the best way to deliver that content. I use all of the standard delivery formats as well as games, learning groups, etc. When I have completed a course segment I then take notes on what worked and what didn't so the next time that part of the course is even better. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Accommodating Learner Preferences

Hi Michael, Good strategy. I like to do this as well. By doing a pre-course assessment I can baseline where my students are in their knowledge and skills. This helps me to know how to group the students as well as plan my instructional delivery. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation

Hi David, Great way to motivate your students. By seeing students that have been successful the current students can get inspired and motivated to work even harder to achieve their career goals. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged in Learning

Hi Bruce, Like your approach. I teach on the same schedule as you. So I am constantly working hard at bringing variety to my classes since my students have been working all day and when they come to class they are tired. So I keep them moving, bring a lot interaction to the setting, and offer a multitude of learning options. All of these things work to keep students engaged and focused. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Jamie, Good strategy for instructional and professional development. Also, your students appreciate the fact that you are listening to them and are open to their input. From this both you and the students benefit. Gary

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