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

Preparing and Delivering Effective Lectures

Deidre, Good list to follow. This will prepare everyone for the learning process and help to get the students engaged early in that class session. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Role Models

Deidre, This is my pattern. I like to get there early and get everything laid out and check to make sure the media is working. Then I can chat with the students and get a "read" on them and their mood. This sets up the starting of the class in a way that has everyone comfortable. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Role Models

Deidre, This is the modeling part as we are models to our students even when walking down the halls and chatting with them informally. As you mentioned we need to always be mindful of this. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Accommodating Learner Preferences

Ed, Good way to balance the learning opportunities for your students. This should increase their acquisition and retention of the content. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation

Ed, This is a great way to increase the value of the course to the students. The more connections between the content and their future, especially their earning power the more engaged they will be. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Increasing Student Retention

Elizabeth, So true. The classroom or lab should be a zone where learning takes place and the problems of real life are kept out to the maximum extent possible. For many of my students school is the one place they can relax a little and focus on themselves before they have to go back to the challenge of survival. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Reasons for Enrolling

Elizabeth, This is such an important point for students to understand. Yes, a degree is there to be acquired but many students get a degree and do not get an education. Those that get both are the ones that are going to enjoy career success. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Feeling Accepted Helps with Success

Elizabeth, Right you are. Learning needs to involve the integration of the senses to maximize the acquirement of the needed knowledge and skills. So the more the better. Keep up the effort of using not only visual and auditory but tactile as well. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Creating Personal Support Systems

Elizabeth, This is one of the rewards of being a teacher. We get to learn from our students and hopefully they in turn learn from us. We get to be life long learners and get paid besides. What a deal! Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Being Successful in College

Elizabeth, Ice breakers are great ways to start off a new course. You are right the students get to talk about themselves and interact with the other students. This gives the class a relaxed feeling and then you can pull them together and start sharing the course requirements. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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