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

Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation

Ellen, This is what functional assessment is all about. You are letting them demonstrate their proficiency in practical settings that they will encounter once employed. This gives you and them an accurate picture of where they are in their professional development. Good strategy. Thanks for sharing it with us. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Comprehensive Planning for Instructional Success

Ellen, Thank you for sharing this information with us. This is good advice for new instructors to receive as they will quickly learn that without preparation the class can start to fall apart immediately. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivating Learners

Maya, Yes, they will. This is how they connect with their courses and see the value of being in school. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Instructors as Motivators

Valerie, I agree. I am amazed at the life experiences my students bring to class. It is a wonder for many of them that they are alive do well in school. They have my admiration and I want to do everything I can to help them be successful. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Effective Motivation Techniques

Jaclyn, I am a big fan of quotes like this. I think they make a real difference for students as well as encouraging instructors. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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Re: Effective Retention Strategies

Jaclyn, Great idea thank you for sharing it with us. This activity yields so many benefits in terms of personal and professional growth for students. They can record and then review where they were and where they are now. This is such a wonderfully graphic way to help them see the value of why they are in school. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Understanding Learner Characteristics

Jaclyn, Thank you so much for your excellent comments. They really expand on the thinking related to how to get students motivated and seeing their future through career preparation and growth. Your last sentence really captures what we need to be about as educators. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Accommodating Learner Preferences

Edward, I think based upon my many years in education that it is a mistake as well to give a student the idea that he or she has a learning type through which they take the majority of their information. I like to look at students and their learning preferences. As individuals we may have preferences for learning such as reading or visual presentations but we also need to learn how to take in information via other ways. The reason is that out in the workplace they don't really care what our preferences are they present the information in a… >>>

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Motivating Learners

Terry, It is good you have instructors in your past that you recall and use as models as you develop your own instructional style. This is how you will be able to find the style that works best for you and your students. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Gary Meers, Ed.D.

Discussion Comment

Expanding Your Instructional Abilities

Ellen, Sounds like you have a great start on your teaching career. You have made excellent progress thus far in adapting your instructional efforts to meet the needs of your students. The only thing I would add to your "bag of tricks" in terms of engaging your students is to do role play of interactions with patients and providing treatment and case studies. Both of these can be used very easily with in a clinical experience and students really like the opportunity to work through cases and role plays. Gary Gary Meers, Ed.D.

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