Dialogue vs. Discussion
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…
CHURCH SIZE AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
There are many factors that influence Christian education programming in congregations.
Two of those factors are staff leadership and church size.
While we may desire otherwise the fact is that congregations are highly dependent on program staff for leadership, development,…
Show us your moves
No, this isn’t about dancing.
The “moves” I’m referring to is movement in your teaching process.
A great communicator once said that how you communicate is just as important as what you say.
In terms of teaching…
The Spiritual Roles of the Christian Teacher
Teaching is one of the primary functions in the Church, both in importance and necessity. In the early church, the function and calling of teaching was indistinguishable from that of Pastor. But in our age of specialization the role of…
The Story of Us
The internet didn’t exist when I was growing up.
I belong to the final generation who had to use card catalogs to look up books and microfiche.
Wild, I know!
I remember going to the public library a few times…
The biological bases for seeking faith
Jaak Panksepp was the Estonian neuroscientist and psychobiologist known for his work in the area of emotions. In his work “Affective neuroscience of the emotional BrainMind: evolutionary perspectives and implications for understanding depression,” he identified the seven primary-process…
Forget everything you know about teaching…it’s wrong
I’ve been in the field of education, from elementary education to higher education, long enough to see fads come and go and dominant philosophies rise and fall.
Along the way, several unfortunate notions about teaching and learning persist, seemingly immune…
What’s in a Name? Education for Formation?
In 1966 Jerome Bruner, Harvard psychologist and educator, wrote:
“There is a dilemma in describing a course of study. One must begin by setting forth the intellectual substance of what is to be taught, else there can be no…
