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 Christina, Thank you for those excellent suggestions for getting a feel of the teaching environment in which you find yourself. By using this simple check list instructors will find out what it is really like to be a student in that class setting. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Understanding learner characteristics...

Hi Thomas, Well said. We as instructors need to understand the students we have and they change so much from course to course. By digging in a bit and learning about where they are coming from and where they want to go an instructor will be much more effective. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Robert, That is what teaching is all about. The "ah-ha" moments when students get it. What a rush for teachers. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Adapting Your Instructional Strategy

Hi Dorian, Thank you for those kind words about the course content. The information I am sharing in the course is based upon practical applications based upon sound learning theory. If we understand how learners learn then we can target our efforts to how students learn and then application and understanding will occur. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Adapting Your Instructional Strategy

Hi Dorian, Right you are. By understanding students' learning preferences and pathways instructors can more effectively target their content and activities to their students. Also, as you mention there has to be understanding on the part of the instructor so he/she can channel the information on. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Matching Content to Need

Hi Ralf, By using this activity you are learning more about what has brought your students to the class. This increased knowledge will help you as you not only plan for the class but will help you to establish rapport with your students as well. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Patricia, Good comments. I am pleased to hear that your college's administrators realized the importance of a clean and inviting learning environment. Now that you have the room and visual supports around it you can concentrate on the learning that will occur inside of the classroom. I wish you good teaching. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Walter, I like your idea of the T-shirt. You may be onto to something there. If we could get the students to see that the reduced distractions really do make for easier learning. Thanks for sharing your points I know they will benefit many other educators. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Clarifying Your Expectations To Students

Hi Lidia, This way this will be reduced misunderstanding about what the expectations and polices of the course are going to be. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi Stephen, You make a very good point about keeping your finger on the pulse of the class. Be asking for input from your students you will be able to change course when needed to meet the needs of your current students. Gary

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