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

Pamela, Great way to engage students. You are using a variety of activities to get your students into the course content and gaining the required knowledge. This is what teaching should be about. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Role Models

Misty, Good discussion about the difference between jokes and humor. I use humor a lot in my classes because of the reasons you list. As for telling jokes I can't seem to remember a joke for any length of time so I don't tell them. I try to use humor in an ongoing way as it fits into our discussions and class activities. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Role Models

Misty, Good self analysis. You are ahead of the game in terms of developing your classroom management skills. You are right on when you say you can be too soft and as a result standards are lowered. We instructors have to maintain the standards of our class and field or we will be short changing our students in terms of their preparation and that will create a negative effect on their career development. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Role Models

Kimberly, We need to be the learning leader for our students and as a result we need to model the behaviors, dress, language and conduct that we expect from our students. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Defining Instructional Professionalism

Tommy, Like your definition and it is one that will serve you well. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Effective Motivation Techniques

Dean, Stories like this help to increase the connection between the instructor and students. I use a lot of stories in my classes because they reinforce why I am teaching what I am as well as show the students how the course content will be used. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Gene, The first day, the first few seconds, the first words spoken all contribute to how first impressions are made. Your point is a good one in that it is easier to build on a positive first impression rather than try to dig out from under a negative one. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Accommodating Learner Preferences

William, Yes it does. Students need to see value in what they are being asked to learn. If they don't then they start to feel that their time is being wasted. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Accommodating Learner Preferences

Sharita, By taking this approach you are increasing the value of the course content in the minds of the students. They start to see how the content they are learning can be applied in their careers. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Your Expectations Clear

William, Like your idea of the Contract for Success. Sometimes students see being in college as a space saver rather than a step forward in their career development. They need to be shown how important this course is in that process. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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