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

Making Your Expectations Clear

Hi Skip, Good approach to delivering content. By using different approaches you are appealing to the different student learning preferences. Also, by coming at the material three different ways you are using repetition to help "seal" that information into the minds of the students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation

Hi Jeffrey, This is a great way of introducing excitement into the class. By having students to suggest topics as well shows that you are interested in their input and are willing to listen to their suggestions. This brings topics into the classroom that are relevant and have application to the lives of the students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Student Feedback

Hi Catherine, You make a good point about feedback and how we internalize it. We need to look for the ways we can bring a different delivery method to the classroom and engage higher order learning from out students and the feedback we get the better we will get at it. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Creating Personal Support Systems

Hi Gary, You make an excellent point. The easiest thing to do is fail because it does not take any effort or investment. Plus, then someone else makes all of the choices for you. I work hard as I know you do to try and get the students to develop a network of successful people as they are moving through school so they can call on that network when needed. They need to understand what it means to have character and integrity. To develop these two characteristics they may have to make some tough choices about who they are going… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Human Factor in Retention

Hi Michele, The way I rein them in or bring reality to their house is to have them talk with a person from the field. I have the person come in or I send the student out for a job shadow experience. The person in the field tells it like it is and doesn't let them send attitude about how wonderful they are. Kinda like a boot camp experience. The majority really understand it after the experience. Others never get it and wonder why they can't catch a break when it comes to career success. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Human Factor in Retention

Hi Gary, You make an excellent set of points of how to be successful. For example, today I was in Home Depot, supposed to be noted for their customer service. Three associates were at the door, two standing and one sitting. The two standing asked if they could be of help, the sitting one was playing a hand held game of some kind. He didn't look up or act interested in anyway. One of the two others took over when I told them that I was in need of a plumbing part and that was his area. He took me… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Role Models

Hi Susan, Great way to make it real for your students. You are sharing with them the realities of how their careers are going to involve them at different times and in different ways. They have to be prepared to accept these conditions if they are going to be successful in their careers. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Role Models

Hi Melanie, Good approach. I am a big user of role playing and case studies. Both of these methods put the students into situations that enable them to practice what they have been learning as well as problem solve solutions to different situations. As you say good training for their upcoming entrance to the world of work. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Accommodating Learner Preferences

Hi Sabrina, You are doing a good job of mixing up the learning preferences of your students. Yes, you are limited with your options since the course is taught online but you are offering variety of delivery and this really helps to keep the students engaged. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Comprehensive Planning for Instructional Success

Hi Jennifer, Way to go with the backup plan. It happens to us all. Gary

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