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

Clarifying Your Expectations To Students

Hi Dale, Your strategy for how you use the syllabus and focus on the important and/or key parts of your course through caps/bold is a good one. This as you know helps to keep the misunderstandings to a minimum. A good suggestion for other instructor to follow. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Dale, Well said. As you know an instructor has to be flexible and have a back up plan B, C, or maybe even Z when it comes to delivering instructional content. As you say some days it just doesn't go smoothly. Keep up the good work. I know your students appreciate your efforts. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

REFOCUS...

Hi Jeffrey, Good strategy. You have to have their attention before you can teach them anything. By using a variety of techniques you can get them to focus on what is going to happen that day, even if it is very early. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Michelle, Well said. Encourage interaction between yourself and your students as well as their peers. This will help them to be able to analyze the content they are receiving and apply to their knowledge and skill base. This is the focal point of teaching. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Matching Content to Need

Hi Flavio, By interactive I mean an exchange between the instructor and the students. In a lab situation where there is a demonstration and then hands on activities the students are interactive with the materials and tools in the lab, with other students and then with you the instructor. Questions can be asked and comments given that will help the students to see the application principles that you are trying to get over to them. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Understanding learner characteristics...

Hi Flavio, By having your students contribute their own backgrounds to the classes' experiences you are helping to draw them into that class setting. Plus, they will respect you more for having valued their previous experiences in light of the class. The see that you recognize their life prior to the class and that they have something to offer to the other students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Tony, That light bulb moment is why many of us are in teaching. Glad you get to experience it often and have developed your instructional skills to the point you are comfortable and confident of your classroom/lab abilities. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivation techniques...

Hi Lane, Good example of how you can bring student interests into the classroom to serve a motivators. This is where application and relevancy start to impact on the lives of the students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivation techniques...

Hi Byron, You should feel good about this compliment. You have established a learning environment that reflective of the world in which these students will soon find themselves. This should make the transition process easier for them. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Becoming aware of retention strategies...

Hi Caleb, Good examples of looking for positive role models for teachers. We can all learn by watching others do their jobs. We can see what we want to model from them as well as what we don't want to do from others. All of this helps us to become better at what we do. Thanks for sharing. Gary

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