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

Expanding Your Instructional Abilities

Hi Edward, Lots of good advice contained in your comments. Instructors need to think along the lines you have outlined and when they do they will enjoy teaching, be successful and have an impact on their students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Hi Mary, This is such a great way to earn respect and establish rapport with your students. Right from the beginning you are showing them that you are there to help and support them and their success. This creates such a positive tone for the class that will carry throughout the duration. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Hi James, So true and so important. This is good advice for all instructors. Sometimes instructors will overlook the planning needed for the first class and as a result they do not have the students engaged from the beginning of the course. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Edwardo, Good steps to follow. You are getting the students settled into the course and getting familiar with each other. This sets the stage for engagement and focus on the part of the students as you move them to the next step in the course. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Offering Varied Instructional Delivery

Hi Judith, Good read of your students. By observing how they are responding to the course content you are able to adapt your delivery to really key in on their learning preferences. This keeps them engaged and focused throughout the course sessions. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Your Expectations Clear

Hi Laxmi, Good way to set the stage for student success. You are clear and concise in terms of your expectations so this gives the students a clear idea of what they are going to need to do to be successful. This gets the class off to a good start. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Being Successful in College

Hi William, Good comprehensive approach to your teaching and student support. This way the students can feel comfortable in the class while knowing they have a caring instructor. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Comprehensive Planning for Instructional Success

Hi Melanie, Good points about the need for a well prepared instructor in a class. Plan B needs to be in place because it seems that the way my teaching goes at times I am working on Plan M or Z before I know it. I never know what happens to Plan A because the dynamics of the class changes and I have to redo my planning and instructional delivery to meet the learning needs of the students that day knowing it will change the next time we meet. This is why teaching is never boring. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Motivators

Hi Shelly, Well said. Extending an attitude and support is a powerful factor for retention and success by students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Blog

Teaching Problem Solving Skills

A common success factor for people in the work place is the ability to solve problems. The buik of the employment opportunities revolve around solving problems for customers. As you organize your course content try to include as many opportunities as you can for the students to develop problem solving skills. After you have given them the needed content for their field provide them with experiences that will enable them to make application of that content. Knowing the six steps to trouble shooting an equipment problem is one thing, applying those six steps is another. Also, those six steps may… >>>

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