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

Instructors as Role Models

Sharon, Thank you for these comments. You are right about the need to set the standards for the class and then enforce them as they help the students to develop the needed behaviors and skills required for career success. As you say to do less is to be unfair to the students. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Laurel, This is a great approach because it helps to focus the students on developing their critical thinking skills by looking at material with which they are not familiar yet are transferring a process that involves some reflection. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Using Graphic Organizers

Daniel, Thank you for sharing this example of how graphic organizers can be used both in class and in clinic. I would think that your students will be using them in their work because of the applications they have seen made of them while they were in class. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Instruction Relevant

Faylee, This is a challenge and one that most all of us educators work with. We need to make the learning process engaging, fun and productive while keeping our students focused on what is being offered. This is where a lot creativity comes in. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Teaching to Multiple Intelligences

Faylee, Yes it will. In addition by using the four teaching methods you are appealing to the different learning preferences of the students so they will be engaged at a higher level of concentration. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Adapting Your Instructional Strategy

Faylee, I agree. It is a constant effort to "read" the students and make the needed adjustments to keep them focused. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Motivators

Falisia, Support is a very powerful motivator and you have experience in how much impact it has on retaining as well as encouraging students. Your efforts are keeping students in school and progressing toward their career goals. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Motivators

Falisia, You touch upon a very important part of teaching, the "human factor". One of the reasons I have stayed in education so long is the opportunity to interact with so many different individuals. I learn something from each one and work to impart to them the value I associate with them and their own career goals. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Effective Motivation Techniques

Ryan, Humor is a powerful teaching tool and when combined with application to the field you have a winning formula for helping the students to internally see the value of being in school and working toward their career goals. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Effective Motivation Techniques

Ryan, I like your list of motivation techniques. They all contribute to student engagement as well as increase focus on the content being delivered. Thanks for sharing this with us. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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