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.

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Understanding Learner Characteristics

Hi All, What are some strategies that you all use to help you understand the characteristics of your students? What are some ways that you use this information once you get it? Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Student Motivation Factors

Hi Gary, It is often the simple gestures such as a hand shake that encourages that student to come back the next day and the day after that. Small steps to a big goal is what gets each of us to where we want to be. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Effective Retention Strategies

Hi Richard, I really like the way you laid out the different aspects of student retention. You are right in terms of some we will lose and some will stay no matter what happens. When I got the chance to be the first in my family to go to college the thought of dropping out never entered my mind because I wanted to make my family proud of me. I had some great classes and some horrible professors yet it didn't matter in terms of my staying in school. It did matter greatly in terms of my learning though. Simple… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Learning from Instructor and Student Introductions

Hi Joanna, Good information on how to use ice breakers as learning tools for your instructional planning. By interacting with your students and observing them as they work through ice breakers you can develop a very good idea of how to approach the class and meet the needs of your students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Your Instructional Style

Hi Magdy, Good strategies both for instructional improvement. You are getting feedback from two critical sources that can help shape your effectiveness as an instructor. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Instructor Enthusiasm

Hi Melissa, This is what good teaching is all about--showing enthusiasm for the career area. As you say if we instructors aren't excited about what we are teaching how can we expect our students to be excited. We have to maintain a high level of enthusiasm throughout each course we teach. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Developing Student Rapport

Hi Arlene, Good comments about respect, rapport and trust. We need to have all three incorporated into our classes. Without trust there is nothing to build on and as a result it is going to be a very long course for both the instructor and the students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Preparing and Delivering Effective Lectures

Hi Karrie, What a great way to support guest speakers. As you know students really like hearing from guest speakers. Sometimes though guest speakers run out of things to say or students don't ask enough questions. By having a prepared list just in case you can be assured that the speakers will fill the time they have with the needed content and won't feel like they need to stretch their comments just to fill time. This s always a great relief to them. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Making a Positive First Impression

Hi Magaly, Feeling important is so needed by students. What are some ways that you do this with your students? Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Making a Positive First Impression

Hi Kevin, If you act professional and maintain leadership in the classroom/lab your students will respect you for your efforts. With your experience and desire to teach you will find that you will be thought of as a genuine instructor in spite of being young. Keep up the good work. Gary

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