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

Your Instructional Style

Gary, This is a challenge in a high interest area like yours. It takes some planning and as you say creativity to get the students to acquire the foundational knowledge that will enable them to work with the animals in a professional way. It is easy for them to get overwhelmed by the "cute factor" and not see the value of the science behind why the animal functions as living being. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Liz, Like your plan as it gives you all kinds of insight into how to expand your expertise as an educator. This is how you become the instructor of merit that you want to be. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivating Learners

Sybil, This is a challenge that many of us face on a regular basis. I don't have a specific answer but what I have done that works with a diverse student group is to create areas within the course that are based upon the expertise the students bring into the class. This is a form of differentiated instruction. I look at the goals I have for the course and then work backwards in terms of problems/activities/projects that will give the students the needed skill sets but in different ways in terms of how the information is presented and assignments are… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged in Learning

Laquenta, You are doing a great job with these different delivery uses. Keep up the good work. Some ideas you might entertain in terms of learning enhancements might be the use of small group problem solving, case studies and role playing if they would work with the course you are teaching. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

David, This is such a balanced way to bring continual improvement in your instructional delivery. Each of these input elements helps you to target and area and measure how effective you are with your students. Good plan. Keep up the good effort. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Discipline in Critical Thinking

Victoria, I agree that this type of support is needed by our students. They need to develop self discipline and rigor in their ability to propose solutions to problems and then think critically about how the solutions would work in that situation. Many of them don't want to invest the time nor the effort to be that type of critical thinkers and limits them as them move into their career. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Your Expectations Clear

Mary, Clear and concise information that outlines the course goals, objectives and expectations goes a long way in getting the students settled in to the course and looking forward to what is going to be taught. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Nnekia, I always get something that I can use when I observe another instructor and this is after teaching for many years. We can as life long learners always get something we can benefit from this effort. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Understanding Learner Characteristics

Lora, Good point and a valuable one to remember as you prepare your instructional delivery. The more you know about them the more accurate you can be in your information sharing. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Your Expectations Clear

Raymond, Good way to demonstrate to your students the value you place your your syllabus and the information it contains. The quiz is a good way to bring accountability to the students plus lets them know what they know about the contents. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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