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

Preparing and Delivering Effective Lectures

Hi Mark, Right you are about the need to create a clear connection to the course content in relation to stories that are told. Stories can be used to show application and relevancy to the current content and as a result content retention will be higher. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged in Learning

Hi Judy, This is a good suggestion for instructors to use. Students are great resources that instructors can use to encourage other students plus use their different life experiences to help other students to expand theirs. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Role Models

Hi Thomas, Thank you for raising the issue of time management for students. Many students have a very hard time in this area as you know. By offering them information about how to manage time you are doing them a real service in helping them to develop in a holistic way as the move toward their career goal. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Effective Retention Strategies

Hi Dean You are right about the dynamics of the class dictating the strategies that you use. The key is to have as many tools as you can in your instructional "tool box" so you can make choices about how to deliver content once you know the make up of the class. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Developing Student Rapport

Hi Lisa, Good point about the need to be very careful about student relationships. There has to be a balance between supporting students and keeping a professional relationship. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructor Enthusiasm

Hi Lisa, I agree about the need for development in the affective domain. The way I promote development in this area as well as increase student retention is with the use of case studies. My students really like them and I am able to set up situations that has the students thinking through solutions that involve talking about decisions that deal with the human development and understanding. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivation Through Relevancy and Application

Hi Wendy, Exactly! Many times though students forget their career goal and how through effort they can have a successful and rewarding career. They need to be reminded of this frequently so they can keep the vision they started with. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Lynn, Keep plugging away at your planning and development of instructional strategies. What you are experiencing is "getting control" of your career syndrome. Not unusual for beginning instructors. When you are spending these very long work weeks trying to stay ahead of your students look for ways that you can present this same content next quarter without as much planning. Currently, not only are you getting familiar with the content but you are trying to manage a class and select instructional deliveries that will meet the needs of your students. All of these planning items take a lot of… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Motivators

Hi Lisa, Great strategy. If this doesn't make the need for good communication skills come alive then nothing will. Your practical approach gives them a number of opportunities to show and share what they have learned. The value of what you are doing in your classes is illustrated by your point of not having anyone ever come back and say that writing does not matter in a career. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Robert, You are right about needing to invest the hours. But, as you say the light is there for next quarter. Now that this foundation is laid you can build on it, modify it and add to it when you want to without having to all the development from the beginning. Gary

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