Teaching: Write on the Board

Many of your learners are primarily visual in the way they perceive information. That is, if they could choose the best way they learn, they would naturally choose to watch or see the information in some graphic form. A way to help visual learners engage in the learning process is to be visual with key words, outline points, or questions. In other words, try writing on the board.

You may have available to you as you teach a chalkboard, whiteboard, or large pieces of paper that every learner can see. If you are working in a home setting, you might adapt these ideas by simply writing your visuals on large pieces of paper prior to the session.

Think about your purpose for showing printed words. Sometimes you will need to reveal the printed message all at once. At other times, you can encourage thought and reflection if you take the time in the lesson to write out your keywords or questions. Here are some tips for writing on the board:

1. Write large enough for everyone in the room to see and read it. This might take some practice. When no one is around, write on the board and get as far away as possible. Can you read it?

2. Write clearly and legibly. Again, some practice might help.
3. When you write, do not talk to the group with your back to them. Be silent as you write. This also allows the visual learners time to concentrate.
4. Don’t stand in front of what you wrote. Why write it and then block it?
5. If writing a question, verbally ask the question, then write the question in silence and then re-state the question. This encourages processing time.
6. If the word is a tricky one to spell, spell it correctly in your notes and copy. Some will be greatly distracted by misspellings.

 The more senses we involve in learning, the deeper that learning will likely be. Writing and speaking keywords and questions can activate two senses simultaneously in our learners. We should teach so all may hear, but we should also teach so that all visual learners can see.

 Scripture:

“This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.” John 8:6 (ESV)

Prayer:
Ask God to help you appreciate and communicate with the visual learners in your group.

Dig Deeper:
Read  Chapter 14: “Students Learn by Looking,” in Elmer Towns book, What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know, (Gospel Light, 2001). ISBN: 0-8307-2874-0.

Evaluating: Possible and Spiritual?

When discussing the evaluation of church activities and personal spiritual growth, one can quickly see two camps: those who think evaluation on such topics is impossible and those who think it is possible. Those who reject evaluation of spiritual things think spiritual things are so personal that it is impossible to qualify or quantify them or that someone’s personal growth is simply not anyone else’s business. Yet, in the last ten years or so, committed Christian researchers are finding ways to evaluate church effectiveness and spiritual growth of individuals. I fall into the former camp, but I reserve the notion that while evaluation is possible and even spiritual, even the best social science cannot uncover every detail in the spiritual realm. But, much of what Christian researchers are discovering about believers is amazing and insightful.

 Our Scriptures indicate many forms of evaluation including numerical counts, personal evaluations, and encouragements to be discerning. Evaluation is not equal to the prejudicial “judging” Jesus condemns in the Sermon of the Mount. In fact, evaluating is the highest level of cognitive learning. Therefore, we can and must engage in examining our kingdom efforts for effectiveness. We must stack our lives against God’s Word and the character of Jesus to ascertain our spiritual development. Evaluation should not only look for what is wrong, but should also consider assessment of successful and meaningful practices in kingdom work. Evaluation is not about condemnation but about being intentional in the planning and execution of our kingdom work.  

 Scripture:

“until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”  Ephesians 4:13 (ESV)

 Prayer:

Ask God to help you think critically about the effectiveness of your teaching and leading.

 Dig Deeper:

Read Chapter 15, “Building the Equipping Ministry System: Equip,” in The Equipping Church Guidebook by Sue Mallory and Brad Smith (Leadership Network), Zondervan, 2001. ISBN: 0-310-23957-5.