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

Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged in Learning

Hi Jan, Good points! Engaging means getting the students to see the value of the content and then helping them acquire such content through a variety of instructional deliveries. The entitlement mentality does make it hard at times to enlighten students to the fact that it is their future and they have to shape it because no one else can do it for them. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Developing Clear Goals and Objectives

Hi Mark, Good point about the need to be clear and concise in terms of course requirements. This is what educational planning needs to be about. Your example is a good one and I appreciate you sharing it because I think we have all been there one time or another with instructors. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Human Factor in Retention

Hi Betsy, Thank you for sharing this great example of the personal touch by an instructor. You gave her the individual attention she needed to continue on in the course and as a result she is going to be successful in the course this time. Great job! Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Adapting Your Instructional Strategy

Hi Frederick, Good point. This is why we need to work at making the learning environment supportive and comfortable so the students will see learning opportunities when they are there. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Effective Motivation Techniques

Hi Kim, Peer support and encouragement can go a long ways in helping struggling students to stay engaged. This is a great complement to your abilities as an online instructor. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Motivation Through Relevancy and Application

Hi Mark, I call this "connecting the dots". We have to do this for the students or the value they associate with their classes will be greatly reduced. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Developing Student Rapport

Hi Jennifer, Maybe you can pitch your approach a little differently and ask the student if you can help them in anyway to over come their missing of class. So you are establishing yourself as a supporter of their efforts as students and not trying to run them down as a result of their absence. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructor Enthusiasm

Hi Mark, I think it all depends on how you use your enthusiasm. Enthusiasm for your field and for your students success will go a long way in keeping students in school because they know you care about them and their futures. You are right when you talk about not have objectives to what you are doing. You have to or you are wasting the time of your students. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Instruction Relevant

Hi Robert, Good way to start a class. A pretest will give you a bench mark so you can plan your instructional content and delivery so it will be focused on the learning needs of the students. I use them as a part of my class opening and they really help the students to understand where they are in relation to the upcoming course as well as showing them what they are going to learn through the coming weeks. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Student Feedback

Hi Andrew, Right you are. Talking may not be teaching. We need to always be reading our students so we can tell if they are being reached. Gary

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