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

Reasons for Enrolling

Hi Joel, Good comments about the ways an instructor can support student success. As you well know there are always a few students that are in need of extra support and encouragement. When these students are successful it is so rewarding for both the student and the instructor. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Offering Varied Instructional Delivery

Hi Barbara, Here is a strategy that I have used with success. I start the class with some activities to get the students focused on what is going to be covered that night in class. Since this more of a discussion time I let the students eat during this time. They get their snacks out of the way, their energy up and then I have put away all of the food stuffs at around 6:30. At this time I make a major shift in the course where I start a lecture and the formal part of the course begins. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Kanokchez, Good way of putting the course outline. This way the teaser or trailer gets their attention and they are ready to dive into the heart of the course as a result. They get a peak into the future through the overview you present. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivating Learners

Hi Kara, Right you are concerning feedback. They like to know where they are in the course at all times but that is true of most of us when we are doing something new. We want to know how we are doing. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Motivating Learners

Hi Barbara, Great to hear excitement and enthusiasm in the voice of a teacher when she is talking about one of her courses. Keep up the good work, your students will thank you for your attitude. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Motivating Learners

Hi Barbara, It would be ideal if schools would budget money to bring guest speakers in but most don't. What I have done is to create a stable of speakers so I only have to ask the same person to come in once a year. So I don't over use them and they don't mind coming once a year. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Being Successful in College

Hi Lisa, Good advice for working with all students, but especially non-traditional students. By letting them know you have been where they have been and that you are there to support their success goes a long way in helping them get settled in to the class. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation

Hi Grace, This is a very good resource to use with students. The more they hear from fellow students the more they start to see themselves in a successful situation. They begin to believe that they can be achieve their life goals if they put forth the effort. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Feeling Accepted Helps with Success

Hi Tina, Good point about the need of feeling accepted by students. If they can feel accepted and comfortable in a new class they then can concentrate on the subject content with better results. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivating Learners

Hi Barbara, Great way to get the students to thinking about what they are about to study. They are using their newly acquired knowledge from the very first class meeting. What a great motivator this is. Gary

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