Category: Teach the Word
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Keeping the Brain Healthy
How do we teach in a brain-friendly way so that our learners will be more likely to recall the information being learned? There are five simple strategies we can utilize that will enable us to optimize memory formation. I like to use a mnemonic device called CROME to help me remember the five strategies.
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Repetition as a Teaching Device
How do we teach in a brain friendly way so our learners will be more likely to recall the information being learned? Five simple strategies will enable us to optimize memory formation. Last month we looked at chunking as one of those strategies. Over the next few months, we will explore the other strategies that…
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So That Your Learners Remember
How do we teach in a brain-friendly way so that our learners will be more likely to recall the information being learned? There are five simple strategies we can utilize, that will enable us to optimize memory formation. Over the next several issues, we will investigate those strategies. To help remember the five strategies, I…
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Creating a Safe Learning Environment
We have been hearing a lot about classroom safety in the news lately. Just as physical safety is important to all learners, adult learners also need to feel that the framework for their learning is “safe.” How do we create that environment? We allow our learners to have a voice in designing the learning process,…
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The Importance of Good Reviews
All too often instructors (myself included) say something like, “Okay, before we get started on our material today, I want to do a quick review.” The instructor then proceeds to lecture, talking faster than the listeners are able to follow. That often ends up giving the impression that the review really isn’t that important—that it’s…
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The Importance of Introductions
Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-c. 215) compared successful catechesis to a game of catch. The game relies not just on the skill of the thrower but also on the readiness of the one catching to join the rhythm of the game.1 How ready are your adult learners to join the rhythm of the game when…
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Open and Closed Questions
If you’ve been following this series of articles, you’ll know that I’ve been promoting learning through dialogue. In dialogic learning, teachers think of themselves less as the “sage on the stage” and more as the “guide on the side.” Since dialogic learning works through dialogue, the instructor will need to ask questions that promote discussion.…
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Learning Tasks vs. Sharing Everything You Learned
In the last article, we talked about the importance of slowing down our teaching in Bible class. Part of the reason I tend to rush through my material is that I’ve already grappled with the text and am eager to share what I’ve learned with the class. The easiest way to do this is simply…