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

The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Dan, Good organizational plan for your class. It gives your students more opportunities to interact with each other and yourself. Plus, the benefits of them seeing how a lab can be set up. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Clarifying Your Expectations To Students

Hi Jay, You have to make sure the students understand what is expected of them at the very beginning of the course. By using your approach you are making sure that this is being done. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Karen, You make a number of excellent points about teaching strategies. The biggest one I think is that you are working hard to make a dry topic interesting. Many instructors just drag through the topic without trying to engage the students at all. If you make it interesting the students will learn more and your job will be so much easier. Keep that excitement going!. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Karen, Excellent point. Passion a word that convenes many meanings for instructors and students. Successful people have passion for what they do and this needs to be imparted to the students. This is a part of teaching that brings so many rewards. Student success helps to keep the passion high. I wish you much success with your teaching. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Jay, Good idea. Have fun with what you are teaching and your students will to. They will see how much you enjoy the career area and that you are helping them achieve their career goals all the while having fun doing it. What a great job. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi Clyde, Good point about knowing what resources you have available for students. As a teacher you can sense when a student is in need of help that is not possible within the confines of your course. If you know what services your school offers you can refer the student to them and help the student to get the support that is needed. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi Clyde, Even though it may be a course or topic that they don't care about you can help them have success in the course by giving them success. What this means is break the course content down to the point that they can have success in one small part of the course. Then some more success and before they know it their success builds to the point that they are hooked on the course. They may never like the course in terms of content but they can see how the content is relevant and helps they to achieve their… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi Amanda, Keep that excitement. It does spread to your students. They can sense it through your contacts with them and the responses you share. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi Alfred, What a great creative idea for helping students remain in school. You are right about many things coming up that could move the the direction of leaving school. By showing your interest in their success you are sending a very clear message that you want them to succedd. I like the idea of the account to help students in need. This also sends a message that the students are attending a school that cares about them and that they have a resource available should they need it. Keep up the good work. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Clarifying Your Expectations To Students

Hi Patricia, Right on! Be clear about expectations and the students will appreciate it. Your plan is just that. There can't be a lot confusion about what they need to do to pass the course. Even though I know you have found as have I that students have to be told over and over again about expectations and deadlines but that is ok. You can refer them to the syllabus and reinforce it for the one more time. Gary

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