Key Ingredients of Effective Learning
1. Teachers should know their subject
In some senses this one is an obvious – but maybe you too have left the preparation to the very last minute [driving to the youth meeting?] and whilst the subject matter is known to a level it possible would have benefited from more advanced thought – research even?
2. The learner should be interested in learning
Having taught many talks on many Friday nights I understand there is usually a mixed audience when it comes to interest level – sometimes that mixture is beyond our control. The point still stands though – to create effective learning the listener has to be interested.
3. Use language that is common in meaning to both
Make your talks a jargon free zone. There are numerous examples of words that just don’t travel very well across the age divide, or the on-Christian divide or in some cases just the cultural gap. Just imagine what ‘;washed in the blood’ could sound like to the untheological.
4. Keep the lesson simple and it makes common sense
K.I.S.S. = Keep It Simple. Stupid – so let’s just go with the KIS – keeping it simple means more people get the point. It doesn’t mean we don’t have to introduce challenging content, rather that we present it in such a way as they can’t hide behind misunderstanding or lack of understanding.
5. It is better to facilitate self learning
If we can point students ion the direction of self bible study, if we can make it easy for them then their learning will continue well beyond Friday night and will be way ore effective.
6. It is all about review and application – changed lives.
For me, youth ministry teaching is more than intellectual knowledge it’s about an increased relationship between the young person and God – it’s about changed lives. The challenge is for me to hold up the content of what I say against the matrix of life changing potential.
