A passion for learning

Group, Jul/Aug 1998 by Schultz, Thom, Schultz, Joani

A passion for learning. At Group Publishing we live that passion daily. It permeates everything we do. You'll find it not only in the magazine you're reading, but in our other magazines-Children's Ministry Magazine and Vital Ministry Mag

azine for pastors-and in our curriculum, books, training events, and workcamps. This passion is built on decades of careful research, thousands of hours spent directly applying our philosophies in real churches, and careful examination of how Jesus taught. It's not piein-the-sky theory, but a tested system that produces real results in helping people learn and grow. The umbrella term we use to describe this approach is "authentic learning." By this we mean that people actually learn and remember-and experience a change in their lives as a result of their learning.

Authentic learning is built on these characteristics:

1 Authentic learning is studentfocused, not teacher-focused.

For too long many churches have focused the education process on the teacher or leader. These churches believe that education is successful if the teacher is knowledgeable and says the right things. We take quite a different view.

We believe education doesn't take place until the learner learns, remembers, and exhibits a life change. This viewpoint dramatically changes the entire educational process. Learning opportunities aren't shaped around the desires, preferences, or strengths of the teacher, but around how students best learn.

During Bible studies or discussions, young people sometimes get off the planned subject and want to explore what the Bible has to say about a different, compelling subject at that moment. A teacher-centered leader insists kids stay with the lesson plan. A student-centered teacher readily shifts gears and moves in the direction of the teenagers' interest.

2 Authentic learning uses a thinking approach. Authentic learning demands that each student of any age must think and carefully grapple with faith issues. This approach spurs teachers to spend much less time asking questions such as, "What were the names of the 12 disciples?" Instead, teachers ask Jesus-style questions such as, "Why do you doubt?" or "Why are you concerned with the speck in someone else's eye, when you have a log in your own?"

This kind of questioning requires real thinking, not simple regurgitation of rote facts. Jesus used a teaching style that featured stories and life experiences that required people to really think about their meaning. He did not use banal work sheets and word puzzles. Neither do we.

3 Authentic learning employs activelearning techniques. Authentic learning recognizes that most people learn by doing. That's active learning-learning by doing. Jesus exempliFied this teaching technique through experiences such as washing the disciples' feet and challenging a woman's accusers to cast the first stone. We encourage teachers to use everyday objects and happenings to help young people learn important biblical truths through their actual experiences.

Active learning is not a learning style. It's a process that usually accommodates all learning styles. Take Jesus' foot-washing experience, for example. His visual learners saw a vivid image of humble servanthood as Jesus scrubbed their feet. His auditory learners heard his profound words and the embarrassed voice of Peter. His kinesthetic (handson) learners felt the loving hands of the Savior clean their dirty feet.

Active learning involves everyone. There are no passive watchers. Everybody gets to experience and learn.

4 Authentic learning involves interactive learning. Learners need to interact with one another through discussion-talking together about what they're leaning. This learner-to-learner talk is called interactive learning. Giving students of any age the opportunity to talk about what they're thinking helps cement learning and moves them toward a more developed faith--one they can actually articulate.

One of our favorite, simple, high-reward techniques is a "pair share." This simply means the teacher poses a question to the kids and asks them to talk one-on-one with a partner. This is just one of many ways to engage teenagers in talking together about what they're learning.

Interactive learning has a marvelous byproduct-relationship building. When young people are urged to talk with one another at church, they meet people, grow to know one another form friendships, and support one another.

Many church leaders complain that today's teenagers are biblically illiterate. Well, as leaders and teachers, we can do something about that. We can help kids come to know and understand God's Word, grow in their faith, and articulately share their faith with their friends. Authentic learning encourages that process.

We're passionate about helping you help your young people grow.