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

Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged in Learning

Hi Ariana, This is a good method of pacing the instruction so the students can concentrate and then back away a bit and apply what they have just learned. This really helps to keep the students engaged over a longer period of time. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged in Learning

Hi Angela, You are right about the use of mini-lectures and how they are effective as learning tools. Mini-lectures help the students to stay engaged and then lets them back away and do something else like discuss the previously covered points and then move back into more delivery of content. This ebb and flow is important in appealing to student learning preferences. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Developing Clear Goals and Objectives

Hi David, You can't say too much about the need for clear expectations, polices and requirements. With everything being clear for the course then the instructor and the students can concentrate on the contents of the course and skills they need to develop. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Catherine, Good points. We can not say enough about the need for students to feel accepted by the instructor and comfortable in a new class. Once the student is settled into the class then he/she is willing to become more involved in the discussions and activities. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivating Learners

Hi Cody, The making of the course "real" by showing your students their future through financial return helps to motivate them and their study efforts. Keep up the good job of helping the students to have a vision of their future career. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivating Learners

Hi Anita, This is a great way of bringing everyone on board right from the beginning of the course. The meet and greet helps to set the tone for the course and get the students settled into the course. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi Robert, Right you are. Always keep that great attitude that learning is life long. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi Gregory, I commend you for your efforts in keeping students in the course. By calling you are sending a very powerful message that you care about the success of your students. Another benefit you get is that the students give you a commitment to continue. In this case the students are staying engaged in the learning process. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Understanding learner characteristics...

Hi Mary, With your method of grouping of students you are creating a number of different dynamics that contribute to the education and growth of your students. The big point is that your students study and work together outside of class. This shows the value they see in working with each other. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Understanding learner characteristics...

Hi James, Good point about the "true" role the instructor needs to play in the classroom. He/she needs to be a model of what a career professional needs to be. Gary

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