SEVEN LAWS OF TEACHING

RAJAN THOMAS

WHY ARE THEY CALLED LAWS?

A. Laws describe processes that brings predictable results.

B. Breaking of laws brings negativeconsequences.

WHAT ARE THESE LAWS?

• They describe the rules governing each ingredient in the teaching-learning process

LANGUAGE LESSON

LEARNER TEACHER

NO.1.

THE TEACHER MUST THOROUGHLY

KNOW THE LESSON TO BE TAUGHT

THE LAW OF THE TEACHER

NO.2

THE TEACHER MUST

GAIN AND KEEP

THE INTEREST OF THE LEARNER

THE LAW OF THE LEARNER

NO.3

THE LANGUAGE USED MUST BE

COMMON TO

THE TEACHER AND THE LEARNER

THE LAW OF THE LANGUAGE

NO.4

THE TRUTH TO BE TAUGHT MUST BE LEARNED THROUGH TRUTH

ALREADY KNOWN

THE LAW OF THE LESSON

NO.5

TEACHING MUST EXCITE AND DIRECT

SELF-ACTIVITY BY THE LEARNERS

THE LAW OF

THE TEACHING PROCESS

NO.6

THE LEARNER MUST REPRODUCEIN HIS OWN

MIND AND LIFETHE TRUTHS TAUGHT

THE LAW OF THE LEARNING PROCESS

NO.7

TEACHING MUST BE COMPLETED,CONFIRMED AND TESTED BY

REVIEW

THE LAW OF REVIEW

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE LAWS AND THE R0LE

OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN TEACHING

• The Holy Spirit is essential to the teaching-learning process

“ A SPIRITUAL TASK--INVOLVING SPIRITUAL TRUTHS TO MEET SPIRITUAL NEEDS--

REQUIRES SPIRITUAL POWER” .. Roy Zuck

TEACHING IS A SPIRITUAL TASK

• God has commanded believers (i.e.humans) to effectively teach others .. Mathew 28:20

• Any spiritual task requires the presence and work of the Holy Spirit to be effective

“ …. NOT BY MIGHT, NOR BY

POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT…. ZACH.4:6

Christian teaching must focus on spiritual

truths• God has commanded believers

(i.e.humans) to diligently study these spiritual truths so they can be accurately taught. 2 Tim 2:15

• Spiritual truths can only be fully received ( appreciated and applied) by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ist Cor.2:14

Christian teaching must be designed to meet

spiritual needs• God commands believers ( i.e.,

humans) to preach the Gospel to meet man’s deepest need – salvation from sin Acts: 1:8 .. Romans 10:14

• Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the truthfulness of the Gospel. John 16:8

Christian teaching requires spiritual

power

• Human eloquence does not substitute for spiritual power.

I Corinthians 2:4 “ … preaching … not with enticing

( persuasive) words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of

the spirit and power”

The ministry of the Holy Spirit does NOT

eliminate the need for knowing

these laws

1. A misunderstanding of 1 John 2:27

2. A misunderstanding of Mark 13:11

CO-OPERATIVE VENTURE

HUMAN DIVINE

CLOSSIANS 1:29 1 TIMOTHY 4:14

No.1. The teacher must thoroughly know the lesson to be taught

IMPERFECTKNOWLEDGE

Knowing

Level 1Level 1

Level 2Level 2

Level 3Level 3

Understanding

Applying

=

EZRA 7:10

IMPERFECTTEACHING

RULES

• Prepare……• Use good books/study aids……• Study the lesson until it

shapes in ……• Find the relationship…..• Make to study your lesson well

in advance…

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

PHILOSOPHY

“ I, AS A TEACHER, AM PRIMARILY A LEARNER”

“ THE TEACHER WHO STOPS GROWING TODAY, STOPS TEACHING TOMORROW”.

… AS HIGH AS YOU ARE ONLY….

Luke 6:40 “…. Everyone that is perfect ( fully trained) shall be as his teacher.

Develop a plan for your growth

Luke 2:52 * Intellectually * Physically *Socially * Spiritually

No.2 –The teacher must gain and keep the

interest of the learner! Philosophy of the Law:

To show interest means to direct one’s mind toward something. Here, the mind of the learner is to be directed toward the lesson. There are two different ways that this interest can be gained:

EXTERNALLY INTERNALLY

Two basic enemies of the interest

APATHY

DISTRACTIONS

*************************************

NEHEMIAH 8:2-3

RULES TO OBEY LAW NO.2

• Do not begin a lesson until the attention of the class has been secured

• Never wholly exhaust the attention of your pupils

• Arouse attention, when necessary, by variety in your presentation ( gestures, voice, questions, etc.)

RULES … RULES… RULES

• Focus the lesson on the needs, characteristics and interests of your pupils

• Look for and eliminate possible sources of distractions

• Use illustrations, visuals aids and teaching methods that are relevant and attracting to the age group you are teaching

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

1. Seek to find out what the needs, characteristics and interests of your learners are. HOW CAN YOU LEARN THESE?

2. Become creative experts with introductions to your lessons.

Mark of good introductions?a. Variety b.Enthusiastic c. Relate

to what you are teaching.

No.3 - The language used must be common

to the teacher and learner !PHILOSOPHY OF THE LAW

The teacher must understand the communication

process.

COMMUNICATION IS NOT WHATTHE TEACHER SAYS

BUT WHATTHE LEARNER UNDERSTANDS

THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

REGULATE THE RANGE OF COMMUNCATION

The vocabulary of the teacher may be many times larger than that of the learner. So theteacher must be sure to use words within therange of the learner’s vocabulary to preventgross misunderstandings, or even distortion

oftruths

RULES TO OBEY LAW NO.3

1. Study carefully and continually the language of your pupils to discover their vocabulary and the meanings they assign to them.

2. Express yourself, as much as possible, in the language of your pupils – correcting any errors in meaning they read into your words

RULES .. RULES

3. If your learners are obviously failing to understand you, repeat your thoughts in different and simpler language

4. Help convey the meanings of words with illustrations and visual aids

5. Review and test frequently to make sure pupils understand the meanings of the new words and concepts you taught.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

1. Good Communication is Learner oriented

2. You teach most of your example.3. Communicate with feelings and

emotions as well as words.4. Don’t always do all the talking….5. Preparation is the best insurance of

communication6. Build bridges of friendship with

students…

NO.4 – THE TRUTH BE TAUGHT MUST BE LEARNED THROUGH

TRUTH ALREADY KNOWN PHILOSOPHYAll teaching must begin at some point. If thesubject is new, the teacher must find a point at which the subject has some likeness to

something known and familiar. Until this starting point is found, it is useless to go on. The learning then proceeds by graded steps ---- liking new truth with that given previously. Then each new

truth mastered becomes the starting point of a fresh advance.

REMEMBER

A CLOUD LEFT UPON THE LESSON OF

YESTERDAY CASTS ITS SHADOW OVER

THE LESSON TODAY

ACTS 17:16-34

RULES TO OBEY THE LAW

1. Find out what your pupils know of the subject you wish to tech them; this is your starting point.

2. Encourage your pupils to clarify and freshen their knowledge by talking about it.

3. Relate every lesson as much as possible to former lessons and the pupil’s knowledge and experience.

4. Proportion the steps of the lesson to the ages and attainments of your pupils ( not too long for the young; not too easy for the older).

RULES.. RULES

5. Lead the pupils to find illustrations from their own lives and experiences

6. Teach your pupils how to think; how to relate what they are learning to their problems and real life.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

1. Be committed to the principles of teaching line upon line ( Isaiah 28:10). It is better to reach less ---- but teach it more thoroughly.

2. Learn how to teach from PARABLES and OBJECT LESSONS.

NO.5 - TEACHING MUST EXCITE AND DIRECT

SELF ACTIVITY Philosophy of the Law…. Some of the most important and

permanent lessons we learn in life are “self taught”

…. The true function of a teacher is to create the most favorable conditions for self-learning.

…. The teacher should serve as a guide.….. Make your pupils discoverers of truth. Luke 5: 3-11

RULES TO OBEY THE LAW

1. Adapt lesson subjects and assignment lengths to the ages and experiences of your students…

2. Select lessons which relate to the needs of

your students…3. Excite the learner’s interest in the

lesson…4. Do not tell all you know or think about

the lesson…. “ The explanation that answers

everything and ends all questions, usually ends all thinking”

RULES… RULES… RULES..

5. Place yourself frequently in the position of a learner, and join in the search for some facts or principles. Demonstrate your desire to be a discoverer.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

1. Teach people to THINK

2. Remember that maximum learning is always the result of maximum

student ( meaningful) involvement ( not just busywork)

CHINESE PROVERB

I HEAR, AND I FORGET ( POTENTIAL OF REMEMBERING 10%)

I SEE, AND I REMEMBER ( up to 50%)

I DO, AND I UNDERSTAND ( up to 90%)

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

a) “ Practice makes perfect” RATHER

“ Well-guided practice makes perfect”

b) “Experience is the best teacher” RATHER.

“Properly evaluated experience is the best teacher”

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

c) “We learn by doing” RATHER

“We learn by doing the right things”

LEARNING < === > DOING

The higher the learner’s involvement, the greater

his potential for learning.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

3. Encourage the student to work for himself,

not the teacher

4. It is the best not to teach at one time more than can be absorbed and used.

5. Help the students learn the process as well as the Lesson ( so they not only known they believe, but why?

NO.6 – THE LEARNER MUST REPRODUCE IN HIS OWN MIND AND

LIFE THE TRUTHS TAUGHTPHILIOSPHOY

PERSONALIZING & APPLYING THETRUTH BY THE LEARNER

THIS IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LEARNING

REMEMBER LEVELS OF LEARNING

LUKE 6:40

Knowing

Level 1Level 1

Level 2Level 2

Level 3Level 3

Understanding

Applying

=CHANGED LIFE

RULES TO OBEY THE LAW

1. Frequently ask you pupils to express the meaning of the lesson in their own words

2. Be sure to guide your pupils into at least one application of the lesson.

3. Encourage them to follow through on at least one application of the lesson.

RULES… RULES

4. Provide opportunities for your pupils to share their experiences in putting the

lessons into practice.

5. Let the question “why”. Be asked and answered by students and/or the teacher (being able to prove your answer forces you to a higher level of learning)

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS FOR THE CONCERNED

TEACHER

1. Encourage students to ask meaningful questions. This helps them to clarify or relate new truths to their lives.

Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know the answer. Reply that you will be glad

to look it up and get back to them.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Give assignments that will guide the learner through the levels of learning: * Not just “busywork” assignments* Not just recognizing/memorizing right answers

NO.7 – Teaching must be completed, confirmed and

tested by reviewPhilosophy

Review should be more than mere repetition.

It involves fresh conceptions,and increases the

usefulness of knowledge because:• A new lesson never reveals all of itself at

first hearing.• A lapse of time causes us to see the lesson

from a new viewpoint, which enables us to understand and apply it to greater degrees

RULES TO OBEY THE LAW

1. Think of reviews always appropriate ( to not review is to leave your work half-done)

2. Have set times for review – at thebeginning and/or end of a lesson.Vary the technique.

RULES… RULES… RULES

3. Make reference to former lessons whenever possible, brining old

knowledge inform fresh light.4. Come up with new questions,

illustrations, proofs and applications for old lessons.

5. Have a final summary review whenever

possible.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

1. Always plan for reviews. No teaching can be complete without the review

made either under the teacher’s direction. Or voluntarily by the pupil himself.

2. Become skilled at designing review questions that help you know whether your students are in the knowing,

understanding and applying level of learning

REVIEW QUESTIONS!!

KNOWING:Who? Where? What? When?

UNDERSTANDING:Why? Restate: Explain

APPLYING:How can you? How did you?

Demonstrate.

GOD BLESS