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.

Activity

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making the Course Relevant

Hi Tammy, The learning through experience or trial and error method is a good one for students. It is low risk, yet gives very valuable experience. It is much better for them to explore solutions with you are there to guide them than to be in the field and be exploring solutions when mistakes might cost them their jobs. I commend you for using your professional experiences to illustrate for your students ways in which they can enhance their own knowledge base. Students like to hear success stories so they can get inspired to complete their own training. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making the Course Relevant

Hi Iesha, This is where â€œImmediate Use of Newly Acquired Knowledgeâ€ comes in to play. We all like to â€œtry outâ€ what we have just learned. Through your use of problem solving and case study activities you are letting your students do just that. Good luck with your teaching efforts. Sounds like you are doing a good job of instructing. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Setting Expectations

Hi Iesha, Instruction is basic common sense in many ways. The problem is we often forget that point. You are right instructors have to lead by example. If we don't take leadership one of the students will and at that point the class is lost. There are many different ways of demonstrating leadership in the classroom, and we need to be on constant lookout for new ways of demonstrating leadership that is positive and supportive for our students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making the Course Relevant

Hi Juan, The use of case studies and problem based learning is a very strong method of enabling students to apply their learning. â€œImmediate use of newly acquired knowledgeâ€ is a quote that I have developed and practice with vigor. Tell them what you are going to teach, teach them, and then let them apply what they have learned. This method supports your comments about being able to meet individual needs. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Learning Environment

Hi Iesha, You are absolutely right. If the â€œcreatureâ€ comforts are not provided then the learners won't be focused on the content. Even though we may have to instruct in a less than desirable environment there are many little things we as instructors can do to let the students know that we are doing our best to make a positive learning environment for them. We need always be on the lookout for improving our surroundings, for both our morale and that of our students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Setting Expectations

Hi Juan, Thank you for those comments. It appears from your narrative that you cover the basic requirements of the course with the students and give them a clear picture of what they have to do to succeed. The as you say it is up to them, realizing that they always will have your support of their efforts. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

REFOCUS...

Hi Jim, You captured it all when you said it always remains our job to teach. We tend to blame shift so much that we forget what the real issue is. Through REFOCUS we can devote our energies to what we are about----quality instruction. Thanks for the encouraging words about the section. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructional Style

Hi Juan, You have a very comprehensive approach for developing your instructional style. It should be very successful for you. A suggestion I would have in getting to know how effective your instructional style is for that class. You might want to use 5x7 cards and have the students respond to your lectures assignments, etc. As the comments are anonymous you will find that the students will give you clear and very helpful information about how you are doing. There is less pressure on both you and the students, since you are getting the comments at a time that there… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

REFOCUS...

Hi Kane, Great question. Some courses are structured to the point they present real challenges for both the instructors and the students to stay focused on their learning needs and not drift away. There are several things you can do. You can introduce Ã¢â‚¬Å“ice breakersÃ¢â‚¬Â at different times throughout the class session. These activities can serve to redirect the students for a few minutes before they go back to their work. Granted these are not directly related to the course content but they really help the students to refocus. Another is for you to explore a new method of helping… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Learning Environment

Hi Tammy, The key point of your response is the Ã¢â‚¬Å“level playing fieldÃ¢â‚¬Â comment. This is always a challenge for instructors. They must make sure all students have a equal chance for maximum learning to occur. To offer anything less is to not meet the professional obligations of being a teacher. Each time we enter the classroom/laboratory we have to remind ourselves of this fact. We have to as the questions-- Are all students being provided with equal learning opportunities and if not am I taking the proper steps to correct the problem? I think you will find in asking… >>>

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