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

Instructional Style

Hi Nancy, Good point. Instructors have to constantly strive to increase their professional improvement. By getting feedback from students improvement can be made. Feedback also helps instructors to keep variety and freshness in their delivery. What is the most effective feedback method you use from your students? Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Understanding learner characteristics...

Hi Nancy, All the activities that you are participating in help give you a picture of the students you are instruction. How do you use the information you receive in the daily briefings to help you meet the needs of your students more effectively? Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Learning Environment

Hi Stewart, Good list. You are right on target with your list. This is why as instructors we must look around and see the learning environment through student eyes so we can plan accordingly. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructional Style

Hi James, Thank you for those kind remarks. It sounds like you have a very good understanding of what it means to be a teacher. I am sure that your students enjoy your classes and that you are helping them to achieve the caree plans they have set up for themselves. Keep up the good work. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivation techniques...

Hi Margaret, What a great list! I am sure your students enjoy their classes with you. You have developed a list of techniques that not only helps you to be an excellent instructor, I hope you share it with others as well. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivation techniques...

Hi Andres, Great approach. You have brought the students into the learning process and engaged them in skill acquistion. This is what it is all about. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Setting Expectations

Hi Carol, You are on the right track, that is blending different ways of allowing and ecouraging your students to work together. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Setting Expectations

Hi Andres, Excellent suggestions for sharing expectations with your students. We use Blackboard as our software carrier and use it as a means to communicate expectations with our students. This way they get directly from me, in print, and online. They can absorb all of the information through the learning style they preferr and avoid feeling left out. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Learning Environment

Hi Andres, Thank you for your excellent comments. I believe strongly that the instructor does much to create the learning environment, meaning the atmosphere or climate. If instructors believe in what they are doing and keep motivated about delivering the course content then the students will be engaged as well. I have taught in some very difficult situations, poor equipment, paint peeling, floor buckled and yet we had a great class because we as a learning group cared about each others' success. You are right about the balance between state of the art equipment and cost. As long as we… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivation techniques...

Hi Cari, We all like to feel appreciated and you are doing this in a way that is individual for each student. I think this is a great approach. You are also recognizing the difference that each student is brining to the class. It helps to create rapport with each student and that leads to retention, which is what we all want. Program completers. We want them to have a successful career as a result of the influence we have had on their learning. Keep up the good work. Gary

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