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

Your Instructional Style

Hi Caren, A comfortable class where students feel supported really sets the stage for increased learning. If the students feel they can take risks in answering questions or leading a discussion they will in such a setting. Your class is such a setting. This is why they work at coming up with the answers themselves in many cases because you have helped them to have the confidence to do so. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Your Expectations Clear

Hi Jeffrey, The key with any skill development is the ability to perform the task or solve the problem using industry accepted standards. You are doing that with your approach to keeping the students in a sequence as they complete their work. They will thank you for this later though at times it may be challenging as you keep them moving forward. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivation techniques...

Hi Lori, No question about it. The more students can see themselves in the examples you give and the career plans you help them develop the more real the course becomes. They start to see that this is their future and they have to work hard at shaping it if they are going to be successful in the career field they have chosen. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivation techniques...

Hi Mark, You are right about the need for constant reinforcement. Students need to know that they are on target and that they are being successful in the course. Keep up the good work. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivation techniques...

Hi Marshall, The use of real life examples and/or case studies are powerful teaching tools. Your experiences help you to set the stage for students to take these experiences and then develop solutions to the problems presented. The good thing is since they are situations from your past you can share with them how they worked out so the students gain valuable knowledge from both the example as well as the solution. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Developing Clear Goals and Objectives

Hi Germain, What have you found to be the most effective ways of getting across the expectations of your courses? Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Learning from Instructor and Student Introductions

Hi Connal, You make a number of very good points about getting to know students and their backgrounds. Your one comment about the fact that all of your experiences are not limited just to your field of expertise. Students continue to be surprised when they find out that their instructor has a family, hobbies, frustrations, challenges and all the other things in life that everyone faces. They seem to thing we live in boxes between classes and come out only to teach and then dart back into the box. It is good for them to know such things about us.… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Tony, The immediate changes that a number of participants have referred to are those that are needed within the current course. There may be some type of student dynamic going on that needs to be addressed immediately for the good and continued success of the class. Your point about looking at the long term in relation to syllabi changes and course assignments is a good one. These changes shouldn't be reactive but thoughtful when made. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Tony, Talk about making it "real" you are doing it. The students know that what you are talking about in class is the latest information because you are using it in your daily efforts in your business. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

REFOCUS...

Hi Jaclyn, Written like a true professional. Internal reflection is important for educators so they can continue to develop their skills while evaluating their emotional state. This effort will help with keeping the vision for students as well as the excitement needed for the course content. Gary

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