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

Instructor REFOCUS

Hi Troy, Right you are. The students have to see or be shown what the WIFM is for them. They have to personalize that message so they can see the reason for putting forth all the effort required to be successful in the class. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructor REFOCUS

Hi Cheryl, Good strategies. Your activities sound like fun. I am sure they really get the students involved and engaged in the learning process. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Understanding Learner Characteristics

Hi Joseph, Good discussion on the why knowing the characteristics of students is so important. I really like your example of showing students how relevancy and application can be made. You are involving a multitude different learning preferences as well as the senses. I am sure your students don't forget this activity and it sets the stage for is going to come in the course. Great idea. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Preparing and Delivering Effective Lectures

Hi Gregory, Humor is a powerful teaching tool that really helps to keep the students engaged. Everyone like to laugh now and then. Laughter is good for the mind and helps to refresh the thinking process of students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Beth, That is correct. Each class has it's own dynamics. This is why we instructors have to be very flexible in our instructional delivery. We have to target the needs of our students in that specific course. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Joshua, Well said. A mentor does just what you mentioned. Helping students to find the help they need so they can continue their career development and letting the students know you are there for them is what is needed. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Larry, Your question falls under the "can't teach an old dog new tricks" category. Once an adult is convinced that he/she can't do something it is tough to move them off this mindset. What I do is to break some of the activities down into small success projects and have the students do them early in the course. I have found that with these little successes the students build some confidence and then some more success and some more confidence. Slowly they get to the point that they feel that they can do the work that is required. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Kevin, Right you are about getting to know students in an online environment. This is the part I miss most about teaching an online course verses an on-site course. Still working on techniques that will help this process but still a long way to go. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Learning from Instructor and Student Introductions

Hi Leah, The use of groups is a great way to speed the introduction process along. This is what I do as well with my bigger classes. What I have found, as I am sure you have is that from then on there is an identity with their first day of class group. I find them chatting with each other before class and breaks because they know this group better than anyone else. Gradually they spread their contacts out to include the rest of the class members. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Learning from Instructor and Student Introductions

Hi Gregory, You made a key point in relation to establishing a connection between you and your students. By finding something of personal interest that you can talk with them about you are making a connection that will lead to rapport between you and them. Rapport with students is critical for maintaining a relationship that encourages them to grow and develop in the field. Gary

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