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.

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Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Instruction Relevant

Richard, You are doing such a good service for your students because you are showing them the reason for your course as well as how your content applies directly to their future. (Don't pass the national boards, don't enter the field) This is a real simple complex that many students seem to miss as they are going through their classes. You are connecting the dots for them so they can see the value of your content. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Preparing and Delivering Effective Lectures

Donna, Students of all ages and in all kinds of classes like to play games and be competitive. Using games to review content and increase excitement in the class are great motivators. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

The Learning Environment Effect

Donna, These three concepts can serve to direct you as you plan your instructional delivery and content. Once you have completed a unit and have it ready for delivery pause and ask yourself if it provides the three elements. If it does you are good to go and if not be creative and try to add content that will enable the three to be achieved. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Donna, A change of instructional style generally incorporates a change in instructional delivery. For example if your style is to deliver your content via a 2 hour lecture then a change of style might be to take the content from the lecture and reformat it to mini-lectures of 15-20 minutes and then have a small group activity, role play, case study or Q&A session. Then do another mini-lecture and a different activity. This way you are appealing to the different learning preferences of your students while using different instructional venues to deliver the content. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Effective Motivation Techniques

Amanda, Successful graduates as guest speakers are powerful motivators. You are so right in terms of them helping the current students to see the value of the content being taught. Excitement from visits of graduates last for weeks after they have spoken. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Student Feedback

Amanda, Listening is how we learn, whether we are students or teachers. Student feedback is so valuable in our instructional development. You comments reflect how instructors can grow, improve and refine their instruction by listening to their students. Good points! Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructor Enthusiasm

Amanda, Thank you for these comments about how to engage students. An instructor needs to have passion about his or her field and then be enthusiastic about sharing it. Both of the elements serve to "sell" the value of the course and show students how this course contributes to their career development. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Creating Personal Support Systems

Amanda, You are providing support to and for your students in a number of ways that shows them you care about them as individuals but also that you care about their success. You are helping them to create a future for themselves and providing the support to do it if they are willing to put forth the effort. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Keeping Students Engaged in Learning

Sonya, Students love hearing stories from the field. These stories help to reinforce the value of the content being taught as well as help them see what they will be experiencing when they are out in the workplace. This greatly increases their engagement. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Sonya, Yes, it does. In addition, a positive first impression sets the tone for the class to come. A good first impression indicates the level of professionalism that is going to be displayed in the class and how students can become engaged in being successful. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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