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

Setting Expectations

Hi Jessica, You have laid out an excellent mission for your teaching. By you caring you show your students that if they will invest time and effort in your class you will do all that you can to help the succeed. Keep up the good work, I know it is paying off for you. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Setting Expectations

Hi Dr. Stover, Very well said. Career colleges must be teaching to business and industry standards. If not then we are not meeting our professional obligations. In addition, we need to be teaching our students the life skills needed to succeed in the workplace. If we don't it won't be too long until we are out of business as career preparation institutions. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructional Style

Hi Dr. Stover, Well said concerning the various forms of assistance that are available to beginning instructors. If new instructors will take the time to not only look at these materials but observe other instructors and talk with fellow educators they can develop their own style and be successful with it. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Learning Environment

Hi Monique, Well said. It seems that many times instructors don't see the environment around them and as a result try and teach in a situation that is difficult for the student. What do you look for in a learning environment that is positive for students? Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivation techniques...

Hi Suzanne, Sounds like you have a very student first approach to your teaching. Keep up the good work. You are using a targeted instructional way of meeting individual student needs while keeping the class on schedule. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

REFOCUS...

Hi Suzanne, Good point. Batteries must be recharged. If management does not offer an instructor this opportunity they need to develop their own plan. Even if they are teaching the same courses over and over they can look for ways to make changes, add activities, etc. anything to bring variety to the setting. You have to maintain a certain level of excitement about your field or teaching will soon become a difficult way of earning a living. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making the Course Relevant

Hi Elbert, Thank you for your contribution to the forum. You made a number of excellent points. The one I would like to support is the ability to move from "book knowledge" to application. Some students don't know how to do this and others are afraid to do it. They just want to follow a receipe rather than problem solve. Truly successful professionals are those that can make the jump from theory to practice. They have a vision of where they want to take their knowledge in relation to their abilities. Anything we can do as instructors to help them… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Setting Expectations

Hi Elbert, To expand on your excellent remarks. I try to also remind my students that to be treated like a professional you have to act like a professional. I tell them I will treat them in such a manner until they prove through inappropriate behavior that they don't deserve professional respect. Very seldom does this become a problem. They are adults and they want to succeed. When they waiver a bit I encourage them and this gets them back on the right path. Keep up the encouragement. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Setting Expectations

Hi Elbert, Well said. I like your approach with the ambitious expectations and their owning the course. Those two things do much to keep the students invested in what you are asking of them. What kinds of feedback have you gotten from your students about your ambitious expectations? Do they get excited, groan or have someother reaction? Always like to hear from instructors that work in other career preparation areas in relation to types of students and their dedication to learning. Thanks. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Understanding learner characteristics...

Hi Michael, Good approach and good way to gain insight into where your students are coming from. I use the index card as well. A side note I have found in using a 3x5 card is that my students like the small card because that way they don't have to write much. They are all a bit worried at the beginning of the class about their abilities, what I want from them, etc. The cards let them share a little bit of something they know for sure, themselves. Gary

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