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

Instructor Enthusiasm

Kareme, Like your excitement about teaching. You are so right about the need for instructors to bring passion and enthusiasm to the class each time it meets. Your student let you know she valued something that she knew would be boring and yet it wasn't as a result of your effort. Keep up the good work of impacting the lives and learning of your students. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Understanding Learner Characteristics

Nicole, This is such an important part of the educational planning process. The more we know about our students the more accurately we can target our instruction to meet their career goals. In addition it is rewarding to see the growth of students when you know they come from situations where they have overcome barriers in order to be successful students. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Feeling Accepted Helps with Success

Christopher, This has been my experience as well and this is why we need to work hard at getting every student involved in contributing to class questions and discussions. This way they will see how valuable their contributions can be to the learning process. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Feeling Accepted Helps with Success

Kareme, Thank you for sharing your understanding of how you see engagement for students in an online setting. Your understanding and support encourages the students to stay focused and not let life overtake them to the point they fall behind or drop out. This personal connection is what keeps many students enrolled and moving toward their career goals. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Offering Varied Instructional Delivery

Doug, Right you are and this is why variety and change of pace needs to be programed into the instructional delivery so their interest can be retained for the duration of each class. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Robert, Good advice for instructors to follow as they provide leadership and instruction to students. This way they provide a learning pathway that the students can follow while growing in their knowledge, skills and expertise so that once they are in the field they do have the opportunity to outgrow their instructor. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation

Robert, Like the examples that you use to show your students the value of the information they are receiving in the course. You are making the content real for them as they start to realize that there is a reason that you are offering the content you are. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Making a Positive First Impression

Doug, Glad to hear of the positive instructors that you have had in your own background. These individuals are models upon which you can draw as you develop your own instructional style and make a positive first impression with your students. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Your Instructional Style

Edward, Good strategy to use the cell phone as a teaching tool. I do the same but still have my cell phone addicts that will abuse the use of the phone until I call them on it like you would junior high students. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Motivators

Jeremy, Having taught online courses I can appreciate your comments. It certainly is not the same as a onsite class for sure. Sounds like you and your colleagues are doing your best to get students engaged so keep up the good work. For those that do not become engaged or not motivated do the best you can with them but in the end it is up to them to be successful or not and that is something that you do not have control over. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

End of Content