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.

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Expanding Your Instructional Abilities

Hi Rosemary, These are all great ways to learn about new ways to deliver instruction and expand your expertise as an educator. This professional development strategy is going to serve you well. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Accommodating Learner Preferences

Hi James, Great story about how you were able to use your training and skills to provide a service and comfort to a client. Then you connected what the students are studying to an outcome-money. This connection really helps the students to see application and relevancy to what they are learning. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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The Human Factor in Retention

Hi Karen, Well done. Little gestures like the greeting and inquiry build up to rapport which leads to increased student involvement and desire to be successful. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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The Learning Environment Effect

Hi Robb, Your last sentence really captures what has to happen in the classroom. If there is not mutual respect between students and instructor it is going to be a very long course. By having this respect as you well know then everyone can be forward focused and ready to work together on mutual goals. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Making a Positive First Impression

Hi Clarence, You are right on with your remarks about helping students feel a level of acceptance when they come into the class for the first time. Your approach helps to set them at ease and get them focused on what the course is going to encompass. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Creating Personal Support Systems

Hi Bobbi, Thank you for sharing this most comprehensive student support system with us. You have provided a breath of services and opportunities that show the students the services that are available as well letting them know you care deeply about their success. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Your Instructional Style

Hi Kathy, What a great experience base you have to draw from. By living your field every day you can bring the latest examples to your students and when you combing with your field trips you have a win win situation. This is relevancy and application at their finest. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Adapting Your Instructional Strategy

Hi Nancy, In response to your request about learning more about assessing learner needs, it depends on what you want to assess. If you want assess the academic competencies of incoming students I would suggest you talk with your local adult literacy council. They have excellence assessments that can give you an accurate picture of where the students are at in reading comprehensive, and math. There is an assessment called "Talent Key" that assesses the dominate intelligences from among the 7 intelligences identified in Howard Gardner's work with Multiple Intelligences. The website for that assessment is MICubed.com. By knowing the… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Making a Positive First Impression

Hi Jan, Good comments about how we need to plan for our first impressions with our students. There are many things as you mention that we can do and we need to make sure that everything is in order as we kick off the new class. The first impression does set the tone for the first few class meetings so we need to try and get it right. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Using a Well-prepared Syllabus

Hi Tanisha, This is such good advice for instructors. Thank you for sharing it with us. This reinforces the need for careful planning and clear writing on the part of instructors. A syllabus is an effective communication tool of expectations and requirements. Gary

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