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

Discipline in Critical Thinking

Robert, Your three step process listed at the end of your comments is a very good model to follow. I know these steps will be valuable to other instructors that are seeking to expand the critical thinking abilities of their students. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Robert, Thank you for these comments. Your approach to analyzing situations and working toward solutions is practical and understandable. This is what is missing in so much of what we see in the work world today. Common sense and the ability to work through potential solutions make a person very valuable in his or her field. Our students need to understand this and try to expand their critical thinking skills while they are in school. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Critical Thinker Characteristics

Erin, You make a very good point about how critical thinking is refined and expanded with experience. So much of what is perceived as critical thinking is just a superficial approach rather than in-depth critical thinking. Your example of the allergy symptoms verses allergen source is a good way to explain how "critical thinking" is often done. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Using Graphic Organizers

Joseph, Thank you for these comments about how sometimes we have to remind ourselves of how often we have to remind and reinforce our students as they move through the content. Repetition is a powerful learning tool and we need to use it in relation to graphic support of the content. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making Instruction Relevant

Angie, I use pretesting for my classes because the results give me a baseline upon which I can plan my instructional delivery and activities. This lets me be more targeted in my approach. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Teaching to Multiple Intelligences

Mark, Having taught a number of short duration courses just as you do I can appreciate your approach. With these time limitations the best approach is what you are doing. You are offering variety and as a result you catch the different learning preferences and intelligences throughout the course. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Adapting Your Instructional Strategy

Mark, This is a tough teaching format and I complement you for how you have created a strategy that offers your content in a way that the students can internalize it and then retain it. The teach then tell method really enhances the application aspect of course content. Keep up the good work. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Student Motivation Factors

Jason, Like the way you balance your instructional approach between the two groups. This way both are learning and contributing to the course. I am sure this approach results in satisfied and well prepared students. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Reinforcement as Motivation

Greg, This is a good strategy to use. I just see your students starting to light up as they "teach" you the material and realize that they have "got it" and can explain it. What a great moment as an educator. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Motivators

Melody, Your last sentence says so much through the words you list. These are the action words we need to follow to be effective instructors. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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