1. MULTIDIMENSIONAL CATECHESIS
The Catechist Track
October 14, 2015
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2. Overview Different ways people learn Implications for catechesis
Ethnic preferences
Key characteristics of primary, intermediate and
pre-adolescent
children
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3. Catechetical Process Review
Planning Starts Here
Human Experience
Message
Reflection
Discovery
Integration
Response
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4. Reflection Discovery Integration
Catechetical Process
Response
Human Experience
Reflection Discovery Integration
Message
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5. Human Experience Have you ever had a teacher or a learning
situation that made it difficult for you to
learn?
Why was it difficult?
How do you learn best?
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6. Introduction: Catechist as Teacher
Tasks of Catechesis:
Knowledge of the faith
Liturgical education
Moral education
Teaching to pray
Education for community life
Education for mission
Teaching
and
Learning
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7. Introduction: Catechist as Teacher
Jesus is the model teacher
(NDC 92)
Jesus’ methodology was
multidimensional: words, signs, wonders (NDC 92)
Catechists are encouraged to use contemporary teaching methods that are not contrary to the Gospel. (GDC 148)
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8. Message: Learning Styles
Different approaches to learning
Preferred, consistent and
unique preference
Independent of subject matter
Independent of IQ, socio-economic background, or educational level
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9. Message: Learning Styles (according to David Kolb)
How we take in information
concrete experience or
abstract conceptualization
How we process information
active experimentation or
reflective observation
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10. Message: 4 Learning Styles (Bernice McCarthy)
Concrete experience + reflective observation
Imaginative Learner
Abstract conceptualization + reflective observ.
Analytic Learner
Abstract conceptualization + active experimentation
Common Sense Learner
Concrete experience + active experimentation
Dynamic Learner
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11. Message: Learning Styles
It is up to the catechist
to adapt his or her teaching methods
to the learning styles of the learners – not the other way around.
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12. Learning Cycle Dynamic Imaginative Common Sense Analytic
What will I do to put what I have learned into practice?
Why do I need to know this?
Common Sense
Analytic
How does this work? How can I apply what I learned?
What do I need to know?
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13. Learning Cycle and Catechetical Process
Response
Human Experience
What will I do with what I have learned?
Why do I need to know this?
Reflection Discovery Integration
Message
What do I need to know?
How does this work? How can I apply what I learned?
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14. Example: Corporal work of mercy: feed the hungry
1. Human experience: Focus questions on
hunger, what it feels like, people who are hungry
2. Message:
Scripture story about Jesus feeding the hungry Church teaching about concern for the poor.
3. Reflection: What does this mean for Christians
today -- in our city and county? The world?
4. Response: So what am I/we going to do about it?
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15. Message: Learning Modalities
Learning modalities are the main sensory channels through which we take in information
Auditory (hearing)
Visual (seeing)
Tactile/Kinesthetic
(touching/movement)
70% of people have a strong preference
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16. Catechetical Process Response Human Experience
Visual, auditory, tactile/kinesthetic
Visual, auditory, tactile/kinesthetic
Reflection Discovery Integration
Message
Visual, auditory, tactile/kinesthetic
Visual, auditory, tactile/kinesthetic
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17. Message: Ethnicity and Learning
Ethnic values and attitudes influence learning
One difference: Sensitivity to “field”
(Field refers to the social environment of the
learning situation)
Field dependence or
Field independence
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18. Field Dependent - one end of a continuum
Strong interest in others, interpersonal relationships
Need and desire to be physically close to people
Attentive to social cues from others
Most comfortable with material with social content
Like cooperative learning situations
Respond positively to praise, adversely to criticism
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19. Field Independence - other end of a continuum
Analytical
Able to work with less structured information
Less gregarious, less people-oriented
Prefer working on own or with reference materials
Enjoy learning for its own sake
May need to learn how to work with others
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20. Summary Teaching and learning are related
Effective teaching engages all students
People learn in different ways
Catechists need to adapt their teaching methods to the learners and the ways they like to learn
Effective catechists incorporate a variety of learning activities in their lessons
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21. Reflection, Discovery, Integration
How do students with different learning styles benefit from lessons that follows the learning cycle (or catechetical process)?
What new insight about teaching did you gain from tonight’s session?
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22. Response = Assignment DUE OCTOBER 28
If you are currently a catechist, write a one-page paper giving three examples of how you will use what you learned in tonight’s session in your catechesis.
If you are not currently a catechist, write a one-page letter to an imaginary catechist who is just beginning to teach. In your letter share 3 things you learned tonight that will help them be a better catechist.
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23. CATECHISTS’ PRAYER God of all creation, sow your seeds of peace in us.
Let them take root and grow so that we,
in turn, can cultivate peace wherever we go.
Make us doers of your Word,
enlivened by its hope and grounded in its truth.
Fill our heart with compassion for those on the margins of life.
May our work as catechists be a living testimony to your goodness and grace.
We pray this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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