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

Matching Content to Need

Hi Andrea, You make a number of very good points about how to include all of your students in the learning process as well as give them breaks in the learning flow. Making yourself available to the students is a major part of teaching and I really like your comments about how you do this. You are right about many students asking for help only have they are in deep trouble with the course. As we say "if only they would talked to me sooner". Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Matching Content to Need

Hi Lisa, I am a big fan of the think-pair-share method because it does a lot of things for the students. Not only in relation to going over the content but also the working with others. It starts small but before long the entire class is involved in the discussion with all students, even the shy ones having their say in the discussions. Good idea. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Matching Content to Need

Hi Christopher, Good ideas. Thanks for sharing your plans for how you are going to set up your delivery methods. Let me know how they work out for you. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Matching Content to Need

Hi James, What have you found to be an effective way of matching the content to student need? How is the bridge between the two made? Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Clarifying Your Expectations To Students

Hi Andrea, Good way to get a class started fast since it is only three weeks long. With the small class you don't have to spend an excessive time with introductions so you can get to polices, requirements, and expectations right away. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Clarifying Your Expectations To Students

Hi Robert, Right you are about the examples. These examples help to make it real for your students because they know what you are telling them is based upon students that have gone before them. You are not telling them anything they don't know you are just giving them examples that show them what the need to do to be successful. Simple but very effective. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Clarifying Your Expectations To Students

Hi Enrique, Good idea. That last parting review of the day's content is a good way to send the students home. They can reflect on what they have learned and be ready for the next day's content. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Adapting Your Instructional Strategy

Hi Bruce, With the introduction of a bit of a breather between subjects I know you are going to see your students better able to focus in on the new material. We are striving to move the material from general information to stored working memory and the more opportunities we can give the students for application and reflection the greater that retention will be. Little things like 5 second pause can even help with breaking up a lecture so the students can let their brains rest and then re-engage back to the topic area. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Robert, I think this is a great idea. That way if an administrator comes into your classroom he or she knows they will participate. So when they do come in you can be assured that the reason they are there is important or they wouldn't run the risk of being there during the discussion of a topic that know know nothing about. I know the students enjoy seeing the administrator talk about something that they didn't think they knew anything about. It helps them see the administration in another light as well. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Steven, Good point about knowing the platform. By knowing how to use the support and technology it is easier to focus on the students and their needs. Plus, it helps you help the students to get familiar with how they can contribute and participate without feeling overwhelmed by it all. Gary

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