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

Making Instruction Relevant

Hi William, The key to working with advanced students is just as you explained the ability of transferring their previous experiences into future possibilities. If they can define and refine their problem solving skills then they will be much more viable in the work place. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Jan, Good plan for professional development. I really like your last point about listing the attributes and then deciding on which ones to refine. This way you have a manageable strategy for positive growth and improvement. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi James, Reflective teaching is when you recall an experience or situation and then create a context for the reflection. Generally in recalling the experience or situation the action takes in considered and then evaluated in relation to outcomes. This method of teaching works well with higher level students that are about to complete their training. The reflection, consideration and evaluation process is used to help students transfer their knowledge and thinking to other situations or the big picture type of thinking. With more and more of these experiences behind them the students are better prepared to problem solve when… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Matching Content to Need

Hi Carolyn, Good job of making your course content real. Students need all of these experiences they can get so they will be able to problem solve and react to situations when they are in charge of their own kitchen. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Carolyn, You do work in a tough situation. I admire your ability to keep going in spite of the interruptions. I am sure your students appreciate your efforts as well. I just hope you can get across the essential information without it being lost to all those that wander through. Your willingness to address the situation is good as well. The administration needs to know how unfair this is to students and it compromises their futures if they can't learn what is required. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Carolyn, This type of personal assessment is what helps you to grow professionally. Keep looking for those ways that you can expand your abilities as an educator and you will continue to offer your students instruction that is of the highest quality. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Bill, Thank you for sharing your amazing story. Flunking retirement is a good thing when it brings joy to you like teaching is. I wish you much success in your "new" career of teaching in a career college. You are right about there being a very different dynamic in the career college setting verses a medical or graduate school setting. By the fact that you are raising the integration question about technology tells me that you are a professional educator that is going to continue to learn and grow your entire life. Keep your wonderful attitude and I know… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Clarifying Your Expectations To Students

Hi Raymond, You are doing a great service for your students by helping see how what they are doing now will lead them to a rewarding future. The fact you are a former student I know gives you a lot more status their eyes. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Robert, I like your comments about being engaging as a teacher. Your example of the teacher that said humor has no place in the classroom is a good one. I am sure that her students felt like killing themselves at the end of each class. Without laughter and humor it would be a very long evening each time I teach a class. Plus as we know laughter is physically good for us as well. Helps the mind, soul and body. Maybe we should send her a joke book for Teacher Appreciation Day. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Matching Content to Need

Hi Robert, Connections and application. Two critical words in the learning process and you are doing a great job of helping students to see both. The knowledge they get from your courses is both career and personal in use. Great job. Gary

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