Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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

Hi Jackie, I like this approach. This is a strategy that gives learning options to students and shows them that you are customizing your instruction to their learning needs. Gary
Hi Nancy, Right you are and it is so much easier to move forward with a positive impression than trying to dig out of the hole with a negative one. Gary
Hi Jackie, Variety in instructional delivery enhances student involvement. Your comments are right on in respect to this point. This way the students will be engaged and focused on the course. Gary
Hi Ricky, This is a good strategy. The more you can show students you understand where they are and that you have been a student yourself the greater the connection with them will be. Gary
Hi Ricky, You are so right on this. This is the fun part of starting a new class. Each one is different so we have to make sure we are meeting their needs and adapting our instructional delivery to meet their unique needs. Gary
Hi Jackie, I like this approach because you are providing the students with guidelines for participation and contributions. This way you are helping them get comfortable with how the discussions are going to go. Gary

Hi Jackie, Thank you for bringing the professionalism topic up. I did the phone thing on Wednesday with my students. Just as I called the class together I a friend call me on the cell. I told the class it was important because my friend and I was setting up a time to catch lunch the next day. I chatted with him for a few minutes wondering around the room and then I asked the class if they would say hello to Tim. I counted 1 2 3 and had them yell "Hello Tim". Very few did because they were… >>>

Hi Michael, Good point. A smile, a laugh and a relaxed but professional atmosphere sets the tone for a class that will be student centered and rewarding for the learners. Gary
Hi Ricky, Yes, it is. Instructors have to recognize and support the human aspects of learning. If they don't they are going to have all kinds of challenges through the course. Gary
Hi Jay, Good points. When you don't plan you end up coming to the football game wearing scuba gear because you weren't sure what the sport was. I have seen many instructors come to classes with the same level of preparation. Teaching is tough enough, and with little or no preparation I can't imagine what it would be like. Talk about stress! Gary

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