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 a Positive First Impression

Hi Randy, This is so true when it comes to being authentic with your students. Making that all important first impression is critical so the students can see you as being helpful and supportive to their learning success. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Effective Retention Strategies

Hi Timothy, Well said. This is what a comprehensive approach to the instructional planning should be like. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Preparing and Delivering Effective Lectures

Hi Jemeka, Right you are about needing to break down the content into small units. This way the students can concentrate on the content during the mini-lectures and then use the content during the work sessions. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Your Instructional Style

Hi Rosana, Great to hear about your confidence growth. A little experience and success goes a long way in helping you to see that you can really have an impact on the lives of your students. Keep up the great attitude and continue working on your professional development. Your students will benefit from your expanding expertise level. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Instructors as Motivators

Hi Melissa, Good strategy! Your students will be only excited about the course as you are. If you are enthusiastic about your course it will go a long way, as you know toward getting the students ramped up as well. I teach a higher level required course so my students aren't exactly thrilled at having to take the course. I have to work very hard to win them over to seeing the value of what I am teaching. When I am able to do that it makes my preparation time well worth it. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Motivating Learners

Hi Phillip, Good point! We need to do all we can to encourage students to strive for excellence. In today's work setting average is common but excellence is desired. We need to keep them focused on that excellence goal. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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The Human Factor in Retention

Hi Gary, Good strategy and one I know helps both you and the students to get settled into the course quickly. Thanks for sharing it with us. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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The Human Factor in Retention

Hi Katie, Good question and one that challenges all instructors. I think that you have to "read" your students as they progress through the course. By reading I mean get to know whether they are comfortable with the course and getting the support they need. It is easy to overlook a student that is quite and seems to be doing ok. I like to greet and talk with each student every time the class meetings. This gives me a general idea of how each student is going and how I can be of help to him/her. This way I can… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Student Motivation Factors

Hi Shanon, You make a good point about being careful not to cross the line between business and personal, but you are going to be fine because you recognize that you need to be careful. It is the instructor that doesn't realize that he/she can only share so much information that gets in trouble. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Your Expectations Clear

Hi Dara, Following up on your ways to earn an A or F in your class idea I would recommend the following. Take the same information that you are currently giving out and turn it into a contract for an A in the course. I do this with some of my classes. I list the ways one can earn an A in my class so the students get to see all of the positive aspects of the grading format. Along with that I also list how one can have the A slowly taken away such as with absences, late assignments,… >>>

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