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

Your Instructional Style

Daniel, Been there as well. The teach out was a very difficult situation to say the least for the reasons you mentioned. The good thing that came out of the situation was that my students and I really gelled together since all of us knew we were out the door at the end of the course so we formed our own support group. Gary Dr. Gary Meers

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Debra, Good approach. I am sure you have had enough experiences in your nursing career to this point to be able to give an example or share a story for each and every part of your course. This helps to make the course real for the students as well as focuses them on what they are training to become. Gary Dr. Gary Meers

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Defining Instructional Professionalism

Veronica, Great list of instructor characteristics in relation to professionalism. This is what it is all about in relation to having a student centered approach to teaching. For a novice teacher you have got a deep grasp of what a professional should be like in the classroom and/or lab. Gary Dr. Gary Meers

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Using a Well-prepared Syllabus

William, My suggestion is to put together a supplement to the institutional syllabus that gives the accurate and comprehensive information you want your students to have. This way you have used the approved syllabus but given your customized information to make sure your students have the information they need. Gary Dr. Gary Meers

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Learning Environment Effect

Kizzy, Great to hear about the success of the practice session as well passed the exam. This is what being an instructional manager of learning is all about. You are getting results. Gary Dr. Gary Meers

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Developing Clear Goals and Objectives

Anna-Maria, Well said. You have outlined some very good advice for instructors to follow. Thanks for sharing it with. Gary Dr. Gary Meers

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Daniel, Tough situation to teach in. I commend you for your creativity because you kept the interests and needs of students foremost in your mind as you worked around the lack of instructional media support. Gary Dr. Gary Meers

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Role Models

Patricia, I think this is a very workable and comfortable model to follow. The students have someone available to help them (the more experienced students) on the basics and their instructor floating around to help them with the more complex part of their lab effort. Thanks for sharing this model with us, I know it will be of help to other instructors. Gary Dr. Gary Meers

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Reinforcement as Motivation

Deborah, I like it! This is a great way to get the students to revisit what has been taught and then review it with you as they are leaving. This greatly increases the ROI of the course content. Gary Dr. Gary Meers

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Effective Motivation Techniques

Steven, Great comments about the learning process with students. One of the challenges as well as rewards of being an instructor is trying to find the "learning key" that unlocks student potential. Having taught for many years I am still in search of that key each time I start a new class. It is one of the fun parts of being a teacher. It helps me to remain a "seeker" of knowledge along with my students because I want to be a better teacher each time I start a new student group. Gary Dr. Gary Meers

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