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

Understanding learner characteristics...

Hi Herb, Good way to lay a solid foundation of knowledge about your students. This way you have a departure point for your planning and the customizing of instruction for that class. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Developing Clear Goals and Objectives

Hi John, You ask a very good question. Go ahead an develop the more general objectives, almost goal like and list them for the course. Then you can get very specific for the daily class objectives because those are short term and intensive. I would list course objectives and then daily lesson/lecture objectives that support the general objectives. This way you have met both needs for everyone. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Learning from Instructor and Student Introductions

Hi Norman, Networking as you know is so valuable in building a career. By making your students aware of the importance of networking plus helping them create a network you are offering them a career tool that will serve them well for years to come. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Accommodating Learner Preferences

Hi Nicholas, Good way to make the course content real. Students like to hear stories about how students and their instructors have been successful in using the knowledge they are studying to acquire. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Instructors as Role Models

Hi Jill, Great job of showing the students application of their expressive skills, both written and oral. Success in the work place depends on communication and by showing them how communication can be a career booster or wrecker they should be challenged and motivated to develop those needed skills. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Instructors as Role Models

Hi Louis, I agree 100%. By being on time you have already set the tone for the class by showing the students you are there and ready to go. That way you can expect the same from them in terms of attendance and being punctual. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Instructors as Role Models

Hi Emilio, Good points all. The leading by example and modeling are very important for those student that have not had positive role models in their lives. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Defining Instructional Professionalism

Hi John, What a great example of self assessment and personal as well as professional development. Your description of where you are professionally as a result of life issues and family challenges is a common one for many of us. The key is you recognize it and are working toward expanding your instructional expertise. By doing so you can meet the first point of your forum comment and that is the provision of customer/student service. The thing to do is to concentrate on one part of instructional development and once that is accomplished then move to another. It is like… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi LE, The key to improvement has to rest with the internal assessment of one's status and plans for improvement. You make a good point about how this can be done. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi LE, This is what rapport development is all about. The students respect an instructor that cares about their success and is there to support them. Gary

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