bruce wilkinson, 7 laws of the learner: law 1b maximisers

Law 1:The Law of the Learner

Method and Maximisers

Thursday 14 October 2010

Sometimes a class goes really well - and at other times rather less well! This section is designed to help you understand why and what to do about it.


The Learner method

What does there need to be in a Christian classroom for the teaching-learning experience to take place?


1. Students


1. Students2. Subject - content / skill to be learned


1. Students2. Subject - content / skill to be learned3. Style - how it will be taught, method, manner


1. Students2. Subject - content / skill to be learned3. Style - how it will be taught, method, manner4. Speaker - the instructor


1. Students2. Subject - content / skill to be learned3. Style - how it will be taught, method, manner4. Speaker - the instructor5. Holy Spirit


These are the ultimate causes of learning - the way you manage these determines success or failure in the classroomEach one of these controls a different part of the teaching-learning process. If you have a problem it is essential to look at these.


The Learner method:3 major relationships

These deal with how the teacher relates to your:subject, students, style


Note the arrows all start with the teacher - and end with the student. The learner method (LM) focusses on how the three S’s work

SpeakerTeacher

WhatSubjectContentMessage

HowStyle

ClimateMethod

WhoStudent

CharacterMentor


The Subject represents the what, The Student the who, The Style is howTeaching is how to teach what to who!

SpeakerTeacher


HowStyle

ClimateMethod

WhoStudent

CharacterMentor


Each teacher is strongest in one of the areas - the content of the teaching, the character of a student is affected, others have an excellent method of teaching (room climate)

SpeakerTeacher


HowStyle

ClimateMethod

WhoStudent

CharacterMentor


Which is your strength?Rank the three based on the following descriptions.


HowStyle

ClimateMethod

WhoStudent

CharacterMentor



HowStyle

ClimateMethod

WhoStudent

CharacterMentor


Subject oriented: love the content, more material than needed, often hurry to finish a class, enjoy explaining things, like to research, sometimes have to avoid over complicating.


HowStyle

ClimateMethod

WhoStudent

CharacterMentor



HowStyle

ClimateMethod

WhoStudent

CharacterMentor



HowStyle

ClimateMethod

WhoStudent

CharacterMentor

Student oriented: love the students, think of them as friends, interested in them in and out of class, like an extended family, can tend to stray from the subject because you want to help them so much



HowStyle

ClimateMethod

WhoStudent

CharacterMentor



HowStyle

ClimateMethod

WhoStudent

CharacterMentor

Style oriented: love what takes place in the process of teaching / learning, love seeing a class that is ‘alive’ with excitement and interest, like to be creative in class, never boring, spontaneous, varied, simply loves to teach


Relationship 1: The Speaker to the Subject

If the subject is your greatest strength:You think about the material most, love the ‘deep’ thingsStudents call you a ‘scholar’, think you are smart, probably think you expect too much from them, some run flat out to keep up


Relationship 1: The Speaker to the Subject

If the subject is your greatest strength:You think about the material most, love the ‘deep’ thingsStudents call you a ‘scholar’, think you are smart, probably think you expect too much from them, some run flat out to keep up

Jesse Owens, May 1935, broke three world records in the space of 70 minutes. 1936 Berlin Olympics, he won four gold medals: 100 meters, long jump, 200 meter sprint, and 400 meter relay.


If the subject is your greatest weakness:Insecure about content, depend heavily upon your notes, prefer not to answer questions, other peoples material always seems better than your own


Relationship 2: The Speaker to the Student

Relating to students is your strength:Students think you are ‘in touch’ with them, cool, an encourager, you care for themYou think students are more important than content, you share your life with them, eat with them etc.


If the student relationship is your greatest weakness:Not comfortable around students, arrive as class begins, leave quickly, refer to you by title not name.Could be thought of as aloof or proud, theoretical not practical, concerned about content, only know a few names half way through the course!


Relationship 3: The Speaker to the Style

Students think you are a good communicator, motivating, time flies by in class, like your variety and creativityYou love to communicate and love a good response, love to work on stories , illustrations etc. you teach with all your heart & energy, like different methods to be used, won’t lecture


If the style is your greatest weakness:Lecture is your middle name, you stand and deliver - nothing more or lessStudents feel bored, class is predictable, attention not held - sleep might follow


Identifying the problem

Problems in the classroom are shown by students attitudes - they tell you what is wrong.Look at the following examples - identify the root problem, then read the potential solution.


Problem: Student relationship - feels the teacher is uncaringSolution: Demonstrate using personal stories and public affirmation that you do really care

1. I can’t stand my teacher. I don’ think he knows my name. I’m not going to study in his class. He doesn’t care about me


Problem: Student relationship - feels the teacher is uncaringSolution: Demonstrate using personal stories and public affirmation that you do really care

1. I can’t stand my teacher. I don’ think he knows my name. I’m not going to study in his class. He doesn’t care about me

Memorise and use student namesUse more personal stories - including failuresCompliment students in class and on papersMake eye contact - especially with those who might seem isolated and unattachedGive out an anonymous questionnaire


Problem: style - teacher only uses one Solution: introduce some variety

2. Lecture, lecture, lecture - that’s all my teacher does


Problem: style - teacher only uses one Solution: introduce some variety

2. Lecture, lecture, lecture - that’s all my teacher does

Record % of time spent lecturingLook at; what you do in class, what your students do, what you do togetherOpen and close classes with something creativeIntroduce special visiting speakers or films or...


Problem: subject - too complex, too much materialSolution: stop covering the subject and start teaching the students - and make sure they understand it

3. My teacher’s head is in the clouds - none of us understand what they are speaking about most of the time


Problem: style Solution: find styles that suit the needs of the students - help them to grow

4. We have no discussion in class, if we want to ask questions we are told to wrte it down and it will be answered in the next class. I could have just read the textbook.


Problem: subject - teacher does not know the students levelSolution: reduce reviewing old material - introduce new - talk about how the new stuff will help their lives

5. Class is so simple - we learn stuff we did two years ago - we never learn anything new.


Problem: subject - teacher is out of touch with the ability of the studentsSolution: change the way reading is assigned - basic, intermediate, advanced - encourage students to read books just above their ability level - teach at the level below the to 10% and offer challenges for the more advanced students

6. I can’t believe our teacher expects us to read these books - they are way ahead of our level - I have to look up every other word in the dictionary


Problem: student - teacher has abandoned their job and the students ruleSolution: establish rules for behaviour in class - along with consequences for disobedience. Practice is consistently

7. Class is out of control - people throw things, no respect for the teacher - the teacher yelling at us and sometimes crying


7 tips aimed at further helping you to use the law and thus get the most out of the method. They will make you more skilled in using the law.

Learner Maximisers


Matt 22:37-40 - love God, love your neighbourWilkinson says this is the most important maximiser in the whole of the book.Apply 1 Cor. 13 to your students - when did you last sit in a class and think this is all about the students?Wilkinson also suggests that love includes passion, intensity, fervency - sadly lacking in many classes.

1. Love your students consistently and unconditionally


What might you love about teaching?Content, Communication, LifestyleJesus was so passionate about communicating with his class that he left the glory of heaven in order to sacrifice himself for them - that is being passionate with love for your students.


Become people sensitive when you teach.Are you aware of what your class needs - is your hand on the pulse?[The Law of Need will address this later]

2. Communicate the subject with the students’ needs and interests in mind


Can you change style depending upon the occasion - or are you one dimensional?Can you; talk pastorally on different levels (e.g. confront and comfort); preach and lead a small group deeper in God?

3. Alter your style regularly according to each situation


According to Wilikinsons own research 80% of students he questioned said they were bored in class the majority of the time.This is not about the student or subject - it is about the teacher.Good teachers make a ‘boring’ subject interesting - it comes alive.


Do not preach another persons sermon - or in their styleNo matter how much you admire someone else or their gifting Be Yourself not a copycat

4. Rest in your gifts and talents - be yourself


Read them and their body language - many times you don’t need words, just read the non-verbal clues

5. Constantly note your students’ attitudes, attention and actions


Good sportsmen play to their strengths - limiting the areas their opponent can play to.A batsman does not spend all his time practicing bowling.Php 3:13 - one thing I do...Don’t try to do everything well - you don’t need to.

6. Excel by using your strengths to compensate your weaknesses


Improve weaknesses until they are not irritating to other peopleUse your strengths to compensate for your weaknesses


Improve weaknesses until they are not irritating to other peopleUse your strengths to compensate for your weaknesses

1 - At the end of the day2 - Fairly unique3 - I personally4 - At this moment in time5 - With all due respect6 - Absolutely7 - It's a nightmare8 - Shouldn't of9 - 24/710 - It's not rocket science


This is above your natural ability.HS was also described as one of the major causers of learning.The most powerful learning occurs when human and Divine teachers move in cooperation - Holy spirit bringing revelation into the hearts of the students

7. Rely on the Holy Spirit for teaching that is supernatural


This is shown in there being 3 levels of teaching:


This is shown in there being 3 levels of teaching:Selfish level - teacher uses their natural gift, responsible for covering material but nothing more.


This is shown in there being 3 levels of teaching:Selfish level - teacher uses their natural gift, responsible for covering material but nothing more.Servant level - teacher serves the students with all his energy and focusses on them and their needs


This is shown in there being 3 levels of teaching:Selfish level - teacher uses their natural gift, responsible for covering material but nothing more.Servant level - teacher serves the students with all his energy and focusses on them and their needsSpirit level - as with servant but also in cooperation with HS in all aspects of the lesson - this launches things to a new level in God


bruce wilkinson, 7 laws of the learner: law 1b maximisers

Education