“Wise Buy” The Learner’s Market: A good offer for our Church’s Education

The Teacher’s perspective:

“The best way to learn is to teach it.”

The teacher couldn’t teach what he does not know.  He could not transfer learning of the knowledge and skill that he has if there is nothing to transfer.  The teacher has to be prepared so that he/she could pass all that he/she has in a given time.  According to our Professsor, Dr. Son, during our class, only the 20% of the teacher’s knowledge is being consummated in the process, given a specific amount of time in discussing them.  That is why it very important for the teacher to set himself in a way that he could consume the teaching and learning process wisely.  As church leaders/educators, we sometimes take our teaching ministry for granted, we should take this ministry seriously because the way we teach the church how to learn is by the way we teach them too.  How do we teach them, if I may ask?

“It allows the teacher to know the students.”

In the Learner’s market, students are given a chance to display and demonstrate their “unknown” skills and talents.  This is a good opportunity also for teachers to find ways in encouraging the students to further utilize their skills as they teach.  The teacher should think and know how could this learning process to be more productive.  Otherwise, the exercise or the teaching method would not be satisfactory.  In our churches, how do we give chances for our church members to utilize their skills?  How do we know them first and foremost?  Handling fellowships using the market learner method is the best way to fulfill this aim!

“It is in doing not a talking way of teaching”

Someone had said that most of the teachers are weak in teaching demonstration.  I think I agree with that.  This is a crucial thing to be undermined especially with the digital age where all information is just being supplied instantly, this kind of method should not be put aside.  Learning by doing is better than just listening on how to do something. Physical Movements, psycho motor skills, mind and body coordination are important elements in considering a holistic learning.  I believe that church education should not only be limited with “spiritual matters”.  Sit down and listen then say, "Amen!" type of learning.   Church education should have connectivity with the world.  There are things in life that we could not afford not to enjoy, there is a thing that we call “clean fun.”  This would also eliminate the notion that being a Christian or church life is “boring” and “lifeless”.

The Learner’s Perspective:

“It is a Student-oriented learning”

         The learners have the freedom to discover the new learning. In a way, it develops the student’s confidence, it boosts up his self-esteem. It also harbors a sense of responsibility and accountability.  This kind of method is the counterfeit of “the teacher-knows it all” thinking.  In this exercise the teacher also learns from the students by observation.  It is a good reminder also that as pastors/leaders/educators of the church, we are not experts of everything.  Let us give other’s a chance to teach us, let us give our members a chance to learn from one another.  Each one of us is a unique creation.  We all have gifts to share.  We are to be a blessing to one another.

“Learning has to be transferred”

         Through experiencing this type of learning, it rekindles the curiosity of the learner to try and pursue the new learning.  It may spark the learner’s loss of interest and may have an option to harness the skill again.  In other words, through Learner’s market the transferring of knowledge/skill has a huge probability for the learner to continue or to progress from the new learning discovered.  That is why it is vital for the teacher to think of ways on how learner’s interest could be channeled into a formative and educative procedure.  In line with church education, how do we mold our learners not to stay as “learners” for the entire age of their Christian life?  How do we encourage our learners to develop their skills so that they could be "teachers" and could teach others too?

“Bonding is geared.”

         Because of the freedom and opportunity to impart one’s skills, everybody is qualified.  Everyone has the chance to be the “star”.  It encourages a sense of belongingness and the silent type personality will be enthused to talk and to share.  This is a good moment for the church attendees to be active in church.  People who share the same interest go well together and thus fuels good relationships. As teachers, to be creative and innovative to think of ways of making our area of ministry fruitful and colorful are skills too.  They need to be exercised. God is providing us a lot of “learning of how to's”.  All we have to do is to do them, is to try them, and to use them to the fullest.  That is what learning is all about—is it not? It is in “doing”.  This is a good reminder also to us ministers on the way we demonstrate our teaching. If we are saying in the pulpit, “behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity”, then, why not try to provide a way for this statement to be demonstrated through the “learner’s market” method?  It is a “good buy”, is it not?