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

Instructors as Role Models

Hi Micheal, Great story! I always like hearing stories like this because my background is much like yours. My parents went through the 4th grade before having to drop out and go to work. But, they were of great encouragement to me and my sisters. When I hear stories like yours I am inspired and I know your students are as well. The bottom line is through hard work anyone can have success but they have to earn it, it is not gifted to them. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Your Expectations Clear

Hi Hilde, Prepare summary sheets for the students to complete over the just covered materials. This way you can get an idea about their comprehension. Also, you can have them write "one minute or three minute" papers over what has been covered. How these papers work is that you cover a section and then have the students list the key points in one minute. You can collect the papers and then review them to see if your students are "getting it". Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Defining Instructional Professionalism

Hi Micheal, Well said. Projection of professionalism is a must. You set the level of the bar and that bar needs to be high so it reflects the standards of the field for which they student are training. This gets them ready for a successful future and rewarding career. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi Bryan, Right you are. Listening is a critical part of being an instructor. It is where the development of respect starts. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Making Your Expectations Clear

Hi John, How do you structure your rubrics and share them with your students? Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Making Your Expectations Clear

Hi John, What are some of your most effective listening techniques that you can share with other instructors? Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation

Hi Kelly, Good example of helping to motivate students and reward them for their effort. Also, by doing this they know you care about their success. Keep up the good work. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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REFOCUS...

Hi Lev, Good point. If we aren't excited then for sure our students won't be. We have to bring our A game to the class every time it meets. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Sharing Comprehensive and Clear Course Requirements

Hi Patricia, Good point. If the students don't have a clear understanding of the course from the very beginning they will have a higher drop out rate when they learn what the true expectations are later on in the course. This is very unfair to students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivation techniques...

Hi Russell, You are right about the motivation aspect. A lot of it is personal because their success helps them to become more successful and it builds from there. Gary

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