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

Creating Personal Support Systems

Hi Peggy, This is so important to teach the students. They need to learn about and practice teamwork because they are going to need it in the workplace. Also, through teamwork the success rate is going to be higher for everyone. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Instructor REFOCUS

Hi Jacenta, Well said. We have to remember that for that class of students that is the first time they have heard the content even though it may be our third or fourth time that week. Another hard thing to do is to remember exactly where you started and stopped with each class. Even though I teach the same classes each has its' own personality so I never deliver the exact same amount of content with each class. I get it all covered for the week but I make adjustments along the way so I take notes on each class… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Motivating Learners

Hi Loretta, You got it! This is what makes learning and teaching fun. Get the students engaged in the delivery and content and you will be able to move them along as needed. They will be excited about what you are doing and you will enjoy teaching that much more. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Accommodating Learner Preferences

Hi Jane, Good strategy. My classes run from 4 until 10 pm so I know what you are dealing with in terms of keeping the attention of students. My students work all day and then come to class hungry and tired. I take it as a challenge to be able to get them engaged and excited about the course because I get to be creative in my instructional delivery. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Valuing Student Opinions

Hi Michael, Good point. Adults are not good passive learners. They like to be active learners so we need to plan our instruction accordingly. This way they feel a part of the total learning process which leads to increased retention just as you mentioned. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Your Instructional Style

Hi Linda, Thanks for sharing these strategies with us. Each of them reveals information that can be used for instructional planning. You are then able to adjust your delivery to meet their respective needs. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Motivating Learners

Hi Carla, Go for it. Be excited! If the students think you are too excited about your field so be it. I know I love my field and the fact I get to teach about it. I am going to share my excitement, experience and expertise with them and hope to engage them in excitement about the field as well. Thanks for your good comments. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Using a Well-prepared Syllabus

Hi Carla, Well said about the need for a well prepared syllabus. Having a well prepared syllabus reduces the number of questions that are asked about minor things and increases the questions about content and skills. This is where we instructors need to focus our attention so our students can benefit from our experience and expertise. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Student Motivation Factors

Hi Dolores, Your feedback method does a lot to keep the students moving forward in their learning while doing it in a informed and accurate manner. By "coaching" and "correcting" the students you are making sure they are learning what they need to learn to be successful in their careers. Gary

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Hi Linda, I like the way you start a class. You are covering all of the expectations, polices, and requirements of the course while showing the students you are there to support and encourage them. This way the class gets off to a good start and everyone can relax a bit and get ready for a really good class sequence. Gary

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