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

Making Your Expectations Clear

Hi Robb, Good plan. With your method you are making clear course expectations, requirements and policies. This way you have reduced confusion to a minimum and given your students an overview of how the course is going to operate. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Teaching to Multiple Intelligences

Hi Kimberly, Good ideas of how to bring variety to the classroom while appealing to the different learning preferences of your students. These methods help to keep them engaged and focused on their learning. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Adapting Your Instructional Strategy

Hi Darlene, What you found to be the most effective ways to give feedback to your students? What do they respond to with the most enthusiasm? Thanks in advance for sharing your methods with us. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation

Hi Gayle, You ask a very good question about class reactions. I don't have a good answer to your question though I have experienced it many times. I often teach the two sections of the same course and find one will be up beat excited and very interactive. The next class will be as you mentioned yours was, dead and non-responsive. These kinds of reactions really puzzle me because I like you have a bag of tricks I use that are always successful in getting students ramped up and ready to go. The non-responsive low energy classes just set there… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Blog

Using the Basics

Sometimes simple is just as effective as the complex. With the increased use of technology in classrooms today there is a resource that is available but often ignored and that is the black or whiteboard. Most classrooms are outfitted with these boards, even the newer ones. So if there is one in your classroom make use of it so you can save time getting the class started and ready for that day's content. You can list announcements for the day or coming week. This way you can refer to them but not have to spend time going over them unless… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Preparing and Delivering Effective Lectures

Hi Dennis, Good way to create a flow within the class. With your movement and questioning you are changing the pace and enabling the students to pause a bit in their thinking and then refocusing on you and the content when you have moved to a new position. This is effective even when you have moved only a few feet. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Using a Well-prepared Syllabus

Hi Dennis, Right you are about the syllabus. A well prepared one enables the students and you to get off to a good start because you understand each other in relation to course expectations. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Increasing Student Retention

Hi Paul, Students need this reassurance at times throughout the course so the more we as instructors can do this the more accurate the message will be for students internalize. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Increasing Student Retention

Hi Paul, This is the foundation of student rapport. By earning the respect of the students instructors have a good start on developing rapport. Thanks for your comments about this. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Instruction Relevant

Hi Laura, I do to. These questions could be turned into a great class opener which would give the students information about each other and you as well. This would help you in your instructional planning to make sure you were on target with their learning needs. Gary

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