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

Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi James, Good plan. You have a number of contact points with each student so that individual knows what is going on and when things are due. Your students know as well that you are on top of their assignments. You are doing all of the right things needed to keep students engaged. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Clarifying Your Expectations To Students

Hi Thomas, This ice breaker is a winner. I know your students have a great time with it and at the end of the class see all kinds of applications for math in their lives. In addition, they see that they don't have to be afraid of math. It won't attack or destroy them. It can be their friend. This sets the stage for a very successful class. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Understanding learner characteristics...

Hi Darron, Thanks for this insight on how your gauge students' responses to the upcoming assignments in your meat fabrication class. The students need to know how to break down the meat into cuts that will meet the needs of the customers and if they don't have that knowledge or are not comfortable in doing such they are going to have some challenges in their work. By getting them settled in and comfortable you can work them through your course. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Matching Content to Need

Hi Michael, I like your menu of opportunities that you are offering your students. They get to see many different ways of approaching the subject as well as reminders of upcoming deadlines and assignments. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Clarifying Your Expectations To Students

Hi Gary, The key word in your forum to me is "re-emphasizing". Students tend to hear what they want to hear and forget much of that. So we, as instructors need to revisit the course requirements and deadlines on a regular basis. It will make our lives and the lives of our students much easier. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Tom, Keep up the development plan you have set for yourself. Something I use a lot in my classes which are lecture based is case studies. You can introduce them through lecture and then have the students work through them in small groups, individually or as take home assignments. They generate a lot of discussion and transfer of knowledge. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Jane, I commend you for your professional development plan. By doing what you are you can see what works and what doesn't. The specific goal of improving your PP presentations is the result. If you hadn't been out and about you wouldn't have seen how awful some of them can be. You now have something against which you can measure your efforts. Keep up the good work. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Shajan, This is a good way to start a class because it helps to get the students settled and get their attention focused the topic. Being a good story teller is an asset for teachers. This ability helps to entertain, educate and motivate. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Shajan, I think this is a good idea. Once you have created a library of these demos you will be able to refer students to them that need to review them or have missed class and need to see a demo. Also, they can review the demos for tests if they need to. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivation techniques...

Hi Brenda, You are also recognizing that the students have had a previous life. Many times instructors of adults students treat the students like they have never had any life before their class. The students need to see how they can use their previous life experiences in class and benefit from those experiences. This really helps with developing respect and rapport with students as well. Gary

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