The core value that received the most votes on October 25 at the workshop day with Denise Van Eck was "learning."
The table/small group that worked on a definition came up with a long list of activities that involve learning (see below). However there was not a definition of learning that I could find on the paper they left. If someone has notes from the day that do show a definition, please share them.
Here are the ideas of that table:
Magnifikids
Christian Adult/Child Education
Bible Studies
Ongoing Professional Development/on
Movie Series
Worship-Sermons
Book Ends
Theater - Woodbrook Players
Bible Pres.
Bible School - Summer program primarily for children
Visitor Literature/Outreach
Weekday School
Speaker Series - appealing to universities
Educational w/s - diff.
Art Outreach Education
Contemplative Worship
Alternative Worship Styles
Educational Alternatives/TV
Vocation Fair - expertise congregation
Coffee House - Movies/Music/Poetry
Programming for Families with special needs children
Music Education
So, what is learning?
I think of it as more than acquiring knowledge or a set of facts. Learning for me has to do with formation. It will include relevant facts, or may result from knowing certain facts. But learning has to do with a habit of mind and heart that is always open to fresh understanding.
Learning happens in the interaction of pupils and teachers. Teachers who teach how to learn enter into the questions of their pupils, encourage questions, and learn from their pupils and their questions.
Learning happens when experience and reflection or cognition come together. I was a pupil as long as I read the books of the Bible for information about God. I began to learn when I realized those writings speak to my life, help me see myself in a new light. I began to learn when I understood that they offer not just direction (do this, behave that way), but insight into the way God sees me and the world.
Now what do you think?
1 comment:
I looked up "learning" definitions and found these:
The act, process, or experience of gaining knowledge or skill.
Knowledge or skill gained through schooling or study.
Behavioral modification especially through experience or conditioning.
These are all noble activities.
At the same time, I fear the term "learning" if it confines us just to the acquisition of knowledge without bringing about any change of heart. I like Jamie's concept of learning being about formation -- forming who we are as a Christian people. That is more than knowledge or even behavior modification. That is about saying who we are, naming ourselves as true followers of Christ in our every fiber. We do not need to be at the end of the journey and fully perfect. We just need to be committed to the journey of following on the way.
Yes, armed with knowledge, we travel along our journey much more efficiently than without it. But knowledge only arms us for the journey. We need to apply that knowledge and learning in our day-to-day lives.
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