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.

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Motivation techniques...

Hi Terence, Good point. You are right about the need for and the value of individualized attention. The few minutes you spend with a student is so valuable as you build rapport with the student and earn his/her respect. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Understanding learner characteristics...

Hi Terence, What are some methods you have used to get to know more about your students? How are you using this information to customize your instructional delivery? Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Understanding learner characteristics...

Hi Bob, You make a number of very good points about knowing learner characteristics. Knowing them really helps with customizing course content plus the point you make about them knowing you care about their success. This is a very powerful tool for motivation. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Understanding learner characteristics...

Hi Stephanie, I think this approach would be very beneficial for a diverse student population group. This enable them to contribute their own life experiences to the content and flow of the class. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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REFOCUS...

Hi Leonard, Thank you for this example of how instructors can and need to look at courses they have been teaching. Your experiences show clearly how the refocus process works to increase the motivation of instructors and helps them to see how they can offer instruction in different ways to their students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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REFOCUS...

Hi Beth, This is why it is good to plan new activities or approaches to course content. This lets the creative juices flow and helps to recapture the dedication of the instructors. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Using a Well-prepared Syllabus

Hi Anna, Right you are. It makes the journey so much easier and less stressful if you have your route planned out. The syllabus is the tool to make that happen in the classroom. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Making a Positive First Impression

Hi Nancye, You are right the mark with how you approach being a professional. This I know makes a major impact on how the students see you as the educational leader. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi Jeff, What I have done is to create pairs or small groups. I have them work together on projects. This way I have assigned seats because the students need to set with their partner or group members but it isn't assigned seating like in high school. Also, these groups create a new dynamic since I "break" up the cliques through random group assignment. I have not had any problems with students getting upset at being assigned to work group and it gets the students focused on the topic rather than the social aspects of the course. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Comprehensive Planning for Instructional Success

Hi Zbigniew, Right you are. By setting up the situation in such a manner that the students can see how they can contribute to the discussion they will join in and be a part of the class. With success like this they will build confidence and become even more involved in the course. Gary

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