The Brain and Teaching and Learning: Pt 5

The Brain and Teaching and Learning: Pt 5

Today’s brain and learning concept: the brain perceives and creates parts and wholes.

This is the final entry in this “The Brain and Teaching and Learning” series.

The brain has two separate but simultaneous tendencies for organizing information.

One…

The Brain and Teaching and Learning: Pt 4

Some of the most revolutionary ideas in teaching and learning have taken place over the past couple of decades.

Those ideas come out of a deeper understanding of the organic brain, cognitive psychology, and neuropsychology. Studies in those fields have…

The Brain and Teaching and Learning: Pt 3

Some of the most revolutionary ideas in teaching and learning have taken place over the past couple of decades.

Those ideas come out of a deeper understanding of the organic brain, cognitive psychology, and neuropsychology.

Studies in those fields have…

The Brain and Teaching and Learning: Pt 2

Some of the most revolutionary ideas in teaching and learning have taken place over the past couple of decades.

Those ideas come out of a deeper understanding of the organic brain, cognitive psychology, and neuropsychology.

Studies in those fields have…

The Brain and Teaching and Learning: Pt 1

Some of the most revolutionary ideas in teaching and learning have occurred over the past few decades.

Those ideas come from a deeper understanding of the organic brain, cognitive psychology, and neuropsychology.

Studies in those fields have confirmed many things…

7 Principles for Better Teaching

“(There is a) remarkable asymmetry between the ways our mind treats information that is currently available and information we do not have. An essential design feature of the associative machine is that it represents only activated ideas. Information that is…

Six Basic Rules for Planning Church Education Programs

Here are six basic rules for planning a church education program:

The persons who show up at an event are the ones who need to be there.

I’m continually puzzled at the over-focus on numbers in congregations.

If 100…

Dialogue vs. Discussion

A friend led a workshop on the dialogical learning method that I presented in my book How To Be the Best Christian Study Group Leader.

He shared how difficult it was for some of the participants to understand the…

Lessons from Infomercials

I’m a fan of late night infomercials.

Given I am a bit of an insomniac that shouldn’t be a surprise.

I got hooked when I saw the first Pocket Fisherman infomercial by Ronco, an early (and still popular) product from informercial…

Basic Rules for Planning Congregational Education Programs

Here are a few basic rules I always share with folks looking to get a handle on how to plan their church education program:

The persons who show up at an event are the ones who need to be…

Where does growth begin?

In Toward a Theory of Instruction, educational theorist Jerome Bruner insists that a theory of development must be linked both to a theory of knowledge and to a theory of instruction, “or be doomed to triviality.” (Bruner p. 21)

…

Self Care and Christian Educators

The ministry and work of the professional church educator is challenging and demanding.

The fact is that the more you stay in the field and in the ministry (especially if you stay in the same ministry context) the job only…

The Formula for Successful Learning: Retention

For years I used a mnemonic in teacher training workshops and faculty seminars to help participants remember a fundamental definition of learning.

The mnemonic was in the form of a “formula.”

As a teaching tool, it was effective, though I…

The Theory of Instruction

In Toward a Theory of Instruction, educational theorist Jerome Bruner insists that a theory of development must be linked both to a theory of knowledge and to a theory of instruction, “or be doomed to triviality.” (Bruner p. 21)

I…

Don’t buy church curriculum

There is one thing you can count on in Christian education at any local church: inevitably (just as certain as death and taxes), Sunday School teachers will begin to ask for “new curriculum.” This is regardless of the size of…