1. In Preparation for Delivering a Bible Information Course
Teaching Adults
In Preparation for Delivering a Bible Information Course
By Professor Michael Quant, WLS
For
The Asian Ministerial Training Program1
"He who dares to teach must never cease to learn."
- Richard Henry Dann

2. “Hey pal … I want you to know I’m not going to buy into this stuff just because you’re a pastor.”
How would you answer this new adult student?
Before we receive some of your answers … what might put you “on the defensive”? … Explain why
Introduction

3. The Adult Learner

4. Objectives for this session
Analyze adult learners by examining the society we live in and the unique qualities adults bring to the learning table.
Apply some of our analysis to our future teaching / learning opportunities.
Objectives for this session

5. Analyze
Adult
Learners
Objective One

6. Analyze Adult Learners
1. Cultural and societal shifts that influence the adult perspective:
Moral relativism
Religious Pluralism
Fractured Society
Emotion replaces reason
Analyze Adult Learners

7. Cultural & Societal Shifts
Any implications for your teaching ministry in a mission-minded congregation?
Cultural & Societal Shifts

8. Analyze Adult Learners
2. Dramatic shifts in demographics:
Under 20 … 80.1 million
20-44 … million
45-64 … 61.5 million
65+ … 34.9 million
71.1% are over 21 years old
14.7% are over 62 years old
Analyze Adult Learners

9. Analyze Adult Learners
2. Dramatic shifts in demographics:
“The Graying of America”
“The Graying of America”
“The Graying of America”
A government report shows that by 2030 nearly one in five Americans — or 72 million people — will be over The Boomers are starting to retire.
Americans, are living longer. Life expectancy for men was 74.1 years in 2000, up from 68.2 years in Among women, life expectancy was 79.5 years in 2000, up from 71.1 in 1950.
Analyze Adult Learners

10. The Hallmark Card company has caught on to the tidal wave.
One must take into consideration the “graying of America” as well as the immigration tidal wave!
One must take into consideration the “graying of America” as well as the immigration tidal wave!
The Hallmark Card company has caught on to the tidal wave.
Shift in Demographics

11. One must take into consideration the “graying of America” as well as the immigration tidal wave!
One out of five households in the U.S. speak a language other than English
Shift in Demographics

12. One out of ten people living in America were foreign born.
One must take into consideration the “graying of America” as well as the immigration tidal wave!
One must take into consideration the “graying of America” as well as the immigration tidal wave!
One out of ten people living in America were foreign born.
Shift in Demographics

13. Dramatic Demographic Shifts
Any implications for your teaching ministry in a mission-minded congregation?
Dramatic Demographic Shifts

14. Analyze Adult Learners
How well do you understand your adults?
As you look at the following images, write down the first impression of an adult learner as portrayed by the picture.
Analyze Adult Learners

15. Image #1

16. Image #2

17. Image #3

18. Image #4

19. Image #5

20. Image #6

21. How well do you understand your adult learners?
1 -- Community bent
2 -- Fearful / cornered
3 -- Capable
4 -- Baggage
5 -- Multi-cultural
6 -- Stressed
Images 1-6

22. So how would you characterize your average adult learner?
Analyze Adult Learners

23. Analyze Adult Learners
Any implications for your teaching ministry in a mission-minded congregation?
Analyze Adult Learners

24. Qualities of an Adult Learner
Life Task
How well do you know yourself?
Quickly list 4 things that make you different as a “learner” now than when you were a learner in elementary school.
Qualities of an Adult Learner

25. Qualities of an Adult Learner
VAC & SETPI
Qualities of an Adult Learner

26. Qualities of an Adult Learner
Adults are Visual
75 – 84 % learn visually
7 billion bits per second (eye) vs. 10,000 bits per second (ear)
Is it time we retire the back-handed jokes / slights about “pictures in books”?
VAC
Qualities of an Adult Learner

27. Qualities of an Adult Learner
Adults are Active
“I’d rather do it myself than listen to you”
The brain can only learn as much as the butt can endure (approx. 77 minutes)
Attention Span ???
VAC
Qualities of an Adult Learner

28. Qualities of an Adult Learner
Adults are Creative
Closely related to their desire to be active in their learning.
Why is it stifled? Up to age six, we use 90% of our creativity; from age 6, drops until only 10% used. Why do we shelve it?
VAC
Qualities of an Adult Learner

29. Qualities of an Adult Learner
Adults are SETPI
Self-directed
Experienced
Task Oriented
Problem solving
Immediate Application
Qualities of an Adult Learner

30. Jane Vella’s twelve principles of adult learning …
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

31. Key Concept: dialogue Vella's "Dirty Dozen"
“The approach to adult learning based on these principles holds that adults have enough life experience to be in dialogue with any teacher, about any subject, and will learn new knowledge or attitudes or skills best in relation to that life experience (Knowles, 1970).
All twelve principles are ways to begin and maintain and nurture the dialogue:
“The approach to adult learning based on these principles holds that adults have enough life experience to be in dialogue with any teacher, about any subject, and will learn new knowledge or attitudes or skills best in relation to that life experience (Knowles, 1970).
All twelve principles are ways to begin and maintain and nurture the dialogue:
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

32. #1 – Needs Assessment Vella's "Dirty Dozen"
Allow adult learners to participate in naming what is to be learned. This means that we include both “core” Bible lessons that every Christian wants to know. We also include lessons that answer the specific questions that our students want to know. How will we know what their questions are?
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

33. #2 – Safety Vella's "Dirty Dozen"
Create a sense of safety and trust both in the environment and in the process
This “means the design of the learning tasks, the atmosphere of the room and the design of the materials convey this experience will work for them.”
“Safety does not obliterate the natural challenge of learning new concepts, skills or attitudes.”
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

34. #3 – Sound Relationship Vella's "Dirty Dozen"
Create a sound relationship between the teacher and the learner for effective learning and development
“The initial meeting between teacher and learner has to demonstrate the sense of inquiry and curiosity felt by the teacher!”
“The initial meeting between teacher and learner has to demonstrate the sense of inquiry and curiosity felt by the teacher!”
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

35. #3 – Sound Relationship Vella's "Dirty Dozen"
Create a sound relationship between the teacher and the learner for effective learning and development
respect, safety, open communication, listening and humility
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

36. #4 – Sequence
Pay careful attention to the sequence of content and reinforcement. For teachers of BIC lessons, this means we keep reviewing GRACE throughout all lessons. What else does “sequence” mean to BIC teachers?
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

37. #5 – Praxis Vella's "Dirty Dozen"
Plan time for adult learners to cultivate action with reflection, or learning by doing
Practice the new skills and attitudes, and then reflect on what they have just done.
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

38. #6 – RESPECT Vella's "Dirty Dozen"
Plan time for adult learners to cultivate action with reflection, or learning by doing
Practice the new skills and attitudes, and then reflect on what they have just done.
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

39. #7 – Interplay of 3 Domains
Be aware of the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor aspects of learning: ideas, feelings, actions
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

40. #8 – IMMEDIACY Vella's "Dirty Dozen"
Immediate and practical transfer of learning to the adult’s life and work.
Adult learners need to see the immediate usefulness of new learning: the skills, knowledge, or attitudes they are working to acquire.
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

41. #9 – Clear Roles Vella's "Dirty Dozen"
Be clear on roles and role development
“Only the student can name the moment of the death of the professor.”
“That is, a teacher can be intent upon a dialogue with an adult learner, but if the learner sees the teacher as “the professor” with whom there is no disagreement, no questioning, no challenge, the dialogue is dead in the water.”
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

42. #10 – Teamwork Vella's "Dirty Dozen"
Use small groups effectively and focused on the learning task.
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

43. #11 – Engagement Vella's "Dirty Dozen"
The importance of engaging the learners in what they are learning.
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

44. #12 – Accountability
How do they know they know?
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"

45. Life Task … Vella's "Dirty Dozen" Answer the following questions:
1. Why does the presenter of the Bible class typically benefit far more than those who attend the class? … Work together and list at least five reasons why it is true.
2. What are the implications of that fact for what we want happening with our adults during Bible study?
Vella's "Dirty Dozen"