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

Effective Motivation Techniques

Hi Charles, I use some type of activity where the students work in groups and then report out. If you are using current events you can bring something current in and the students can react to the event(s) in relation to their field. By using 15-20 minutes at the beginning of the course this way they get to talking and focused on the upcoming course lecture. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Preparing and Delivering Effective Lectures

Hi Angela, "Connecting the dots" between a general required course and their career preparation is important. By keeping their interest you are showing them the value of knowledge outside of their specific field. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Feeling Accepted Helps with Success

Hi Melissa, So true and so important. We all like to feel like we are accepted into a new environment on an equal basis. By knowing we are we then are ready to concentrate on meeting the requirements of that setting. For students acceptance means that the playing field is level and through hard work and effort they can be successful in their course work. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Human Factor in Retention

Hi Nolan, Very true. We all want to be treated fairly and students are no exception. By seeing their instructor as being fair and consistent students can get the feeling that they can be successful in the course. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Students as Class Members

Hi Brandon, Good strategies for getting the students to feel welcome in the class as well as comfortable that they can be successful during the course. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Being Successful in College

Hi Claire, I am sure this is going to be very beneficial for your students. Let me know how it works out for you. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Being Successful in College

Hi Rhonda, Your own experience with being a college student helps your current students. They know you know what it is like to be a college student in two different stages of your life. This knowledge and your support really helps them to be keep putting forth the effort needed to be successful. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Jonny, Great recovery and I like the way you used this incident to build on how the class was going to go. A good laugh is a great way to kick off a class even if it was at your expense. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructor Enthusiasm

Hi Brandon, I know your students see your enthusiasm about your field and teaching. This in turn excites them. Many instructor miss this critical part of teaching and can't figure why the students don't respond. An instructor that is not excited about the field equals a class not excited about the field. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Defining Instructional Professionalism

Hi Robert, Thank you for your input on professionalism. It is a term we all need to understand and apply in our own setting. Professionalism sets the tone for our students and helps them to see what a person in their field can be like. Thank you also for the typo information. Gary

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