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

Students as Class Members

Stacy, I commend you for your effort to learn the names of your students so quickly. This is so important in getting a class off to a good start. This forms the foundation for respect and rapport. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Creating Personal Support Systems

Cristiane, I like the idea of using the cards to gain insight into how your students perceive themselves as students. I would change the asking about their weaknesses to learning challenges. The reason is I think you will get more useable information from them. For example, a learning challenge might be the need to develop good note taking skills. This would enable you to pair students up or give them guided notes, etc.. Another student might list understanding technical material in the textbook. A strategy could be developed to help with that. The point is to see where they see… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Being Successful in College

Danny, Glad you are enjoying and benefiting from the information you have received thus far. Your comments about non-traditional students needed success is right on target. We need to help our non-trads to have early success in our courses so they will see that they can be successful from the beginning. If they don't they quickly become discouraged and then we stand a very good chance of losing them. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged in Learning

Joseph, Learners like change of pace and variety so we need to incorporate both in your instructional delivery. You are doing such with your teaching and as a result I am sure you are seeing enhanced learning by your students. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Accommodating Learner Preferences

Cristiane, You make a very good point about the need to adjust, adapt or sometimes even change the direction you are taking the class based upon the "read" you are getting from your students. By having a number of strategies available and ready to use you can make the needed redirection and keep the class moving forward and the students engaged. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation

Cristiane, This is a good way to provide student support while developing the human relations aspect of their careers. The majority of our work is done with others so we need to learn how to work with others in a number of different settings. Providing peer support and tutoring enables everyone to benefit. Thanks for sharing this with us. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Your Expectations Clear

Kina, I like this strategy. You are approaching accountability for students from a number of different ways and their signing the sheet puts the responsibility for their success squarely on them. You are there to support them but they must put forth the effort to be successful since it is their career that they are working on. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Your Expectations Clear

Lindsey, I prepare a hand out of expectations and my grading rubric as well. This is in addition to the syllabus because I like you want to make sure the students see the handout on a regular basis and they know in a condensed version what it takes to be successful in the course. I also put the handout on colored paper so I can refer to the sheet by color when I am talking about it and that increases their focus on it. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Joseph, It is fund when you have a great first class and you have made a positive first impression. You know you have nailed it that day and that your students are going to be coming back to class excited about what they are going to learn over the next few weeks. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Using a Well-prepared Syllabus

Carrie, Good explanation of the value of a well prepared syllabus. It is the road map (today the GPS) for the course. The syllabus reduces a lot of questions and student frustrations because the have foundation information within their grasp at all times, either in print, online or both. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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