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

Learning from Instructor and Student Introductions

Hi K, You make a number of very good points about first impressions and how to set the students up for success from the very first day. The use of examples helps the students to see the application of their newly acquired knowledge and this bridges the gap between school and work. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Role Models

Hi Sara, You make a good point about how important it is for adjunct faculty to remember they are model in a number of different ways. They bring to the classroom the most current aspects of the field since they have been working in it just prior to coming to class or doing an online session. This is powerful for students to see these folks in action. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructor REFOCUS

Hi Martha, Good point. We need to be like actors on stage. The presentation we are making needs to be exciting, dynamic and fresh even if we have it presented a hundred times before. By adding new information, different activities and keeping our focus we can keep the needed edge for good teaching. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Bryan, Good point about the need for diverse instructional delivery. Through your own experiences and background as a student you can relate to the need for varied instruction. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Learning from Instructor and Student Introductions

Hi Bryan, I am like you concerning introductions. I am always excited and amazed at the introductions by the students. I get such diversity in my class and they have such interests stories about their lives. This is always an enjoyable time for the class and it gives me a good picture of the composition of the class. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Your Expectations Clear

Hi Bonita, You should be proud of your excellent evaluations. It is obvious that you work very hard in planning and presenting instruction. By showing the students that you care about their success and provide them with support you are motivating and inspiring them to an even higher level of effort. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Sriram, I don't have any additional strategies to suggest because you are following the key instructional component and that is personal contact. The more you can get students to invest in the course the higher their effort will be. If they see you as a supporter of their efforts and know that you are accessible to them their comfort level greatly increases. As we develop more technology as well as experience in online teaching, even though it has been around for a number of years, there is still a lot we need to learn about how students react and… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Role Models

Hi Omar, Well said and right on. This is what being a model is all about. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Developing Clear Goals and Objectives

Hi Sylvia, Good point. With all of the technology and communication devices available today it is easy to assume that everyone knows where they are going and how to get there. But, no matter how much technology is there the human factor still has to be brought to the classroom. By helping students identify their goals instructors are creating a career path for students. Also, the human interaction is what keeps most of us in teaching. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Hi Giles, You are making it "real" for your students as you are bringing to the class room evidence of your abilities and skills each time the class meets. They know you have the skills to be competitive in your field and you are willing to share these knowledge and skills. This has to excite them as they can see in you what they can become if they put forth the effort to acquire the knowledge needed. Gary

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