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

Developing Analytical Skills

Jennifer, This is a multiple sensory approach to problem solving. The more senses that are used the higher the level of memory retention there will be. The result will be students that know how to observe and grade products so they will be able to either produce or secure items of the highest quality. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Discipline in Critical Thinking

Jennifer, Great advice that you are giving. Was talking with a young person the other day in a culinary arts program in one of our local community colleges and he was complaining that the only sites he could find to work in to gain experience wanted him to work nights and weekends. He didn't want to do either because those times conflicted with his social time. Thinking that he may not be thinking accurately in terms of what a career in culinary arts really entails. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Critical Thinker Characteristics

Jennifer, Good analysis on how approach critical thinking development with students. The steps you list will have your students acquiring self discipline in relation to how they will become problem solvers that are sought by employers. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Your Expectations Clear

Jennifer, Good way to lay out the course expectations so the students start off the course with common knowledge related to course requirements. This way many of the questions of students are answered and they can concentrate on getting off to a good start from the first class session on. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Expanding Your Instructional Abilities

David, This is a very good instructional development activity. I enjoy observing other faculty as I always seem to get a take away every time I sit in on a colleague's class. I have been teaching for meany years and yet I am always looking for ways to improve my instructional skills. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Instruction Relevant

Carlos, Good point and something we need to remember as we do our instructional planning. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructor Enthusiasm

Herbert, You make a very good point about how you use enthusiasm in the instructional setting. The goal is to convey enthusiasm in a way that engages students. Some of the enthusiasm and delivery techniques will be entertaining but you are right about being first a communicator of knowledge and not an entertainer. You used a word that I think belongs in each classroom and or lab and that is passion. I like to be around individuals that are passionate about their field and enthusiastic about teaching it. These are instructors that earn the respect of their students. Gary Gary… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Feeling Accepted Helps with Success

Herbert, Thank you for this perspective. Your observations are very reflective the the students that we are getting in our career colleges today. The more we can make our instruction have relevance and application the higher our retention is going to be and with higher retention comes greater student satisfaction and success. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged in Learning

Leann, Students love to hear stories from the field. These stories help to make the content they are studying come alive and shows them how what they are learning will be used in their careers. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged in Learning

Frank, Students like change of pace and variety in their instructional delivery. Your approach is doing that and I am sure your are enjoying the engagement you get from your students as a result. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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