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

Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged in Learning

Hi Marsi, I use both of these to get my students motivated. They really like seeing their career in action plus listening to people who work in it. It helps to make their studies relevant just as you mentioned. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Hi Monica, This is the sign of a true professional. Constant growth and development is essential if we instructors are going to continue to expand our expertise and skills. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making the Course Relevant

Hi Nicole, I think this is a great instructional activity. School based enterprises show the students what they are going to encounter upon graduation. While working through the running of these businesses the students have the benefit of you being there with them as a business consultant. What a great learning support this is. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Defining Instructional Professionalism

Hi Roger, You are right on with your approach of bringing modeling and professionalism into the class. You are showing what a professional dresses and acts like so your students will know the expectations of the field. The stories from the field serve as examples of what they are going to face upon graduation. This helps the students see the relevance of what they are being taught. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Blog

Finding and Refining Your Instructional Style

When starting out as a new instructor you may find yourself trying to be a clone of an instructor you had in your past educational experiences. While this may on the surface seem like a good idea since he or she was a dynamic and effective educator it can lead to some challenges and missed educational opportunities. You can only be who you are. Don't try to play a role that is not you. Take stock of your attributes as well as your concern areas so you can have a picture of yourself as an instructor. While… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Hi Celesta, What are some strategies you use when you begin a new class to make a positive first impression? Thanks in advance for you input on this. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Effective Retention Strategies

Hi Susan, Good points about how to establish yourself as an instructor. The wider your abilities are to expose students to different instructional deliveries the greater opportunity you are going to have to keep them engaged and focused on the course. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Feeling Accepted Helps with Success

Hi Thomas, Well said and so important. The need for acceptance, support and encouragement is valuable to students as they move through their educational journey. If they know someone cares about their success their personal motivation increases. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Adapting Your Instructional Strategy

Hi Isabel, Good point about learning how students prefer to receive instruction and how they process it. What are some strategies you use to identify whether your students are more concrete or abstract learners? I know this information will be of great help to other instructors. Thanks for your input on this. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Human Factor in Retention

Hi Robert, Career success is based upon the ability of people to get along in the work place. These are essential "soft skills" that every person needs to have. You make a good point about the need to develop these skills in your students and are doing it by bringing in speakers to reinforce what you are teaching. This shows students relevancy and application to key parts of the learning process. Gary

End of Content