Teaching Adults: Insights from Educational Philosophy

Abstract

Theological education has much to learn from recent research and thinking in educational philosophy. Like higher education generally, theological education has had an overemphasis on objective knowledge usually communicated through the preferred method of the lecture. Research into adult education, however, reveals the importance of a holistic approach to educating adults, the use of different teaching and learning styles, development of a community of learning and the personal authenticity of the educator. Various educators such as Mezirow, Vella and Palmer offer significant insights that can assist in the development of a teaching approach for theology.

For adults, teaching and learning is an integral part of the Christian life. This may occur in a wide variety of settings ranging from the church service (where the tool of choice tends to be the sermon), small bible study groups, short courses run by churches and organisation, and of course formal theological education. As a theological educator, I became concerned a number of years ago about the teaching methods being used in theological education and have recently completed a research project exploring how to teach and learn more effectively. One aspect of that research was to determine what insights could be drawn from educational philosophy that would impact how to teach theology. This article will draw together these insights and their implications for theological education.

Keywords

authenticity dialogue education individual differences learning in community Mezirow Palmer transformative learning Vella

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Aleshire

D. O.

(2008). Earthen Vessels: Hopeful Reflections on the Work and Future of Theological Schools. Grand Rapids MI: William B Eerdmans.

Carlson

(1989). Malcolm Knowles: Apostle of Andragogy Retrieved 20/7/2009, from http://www.nl.edu/academics/cas/ace/resources/malcolmknowles.cfm

Coates

(2007). Generational Learning Styles. River Falls, Wisconsin: LERN Books.

Dirkx

J. M.

(2006a). Engaging Emotions in Adult Learning: A Jungian Perspective on Emotion and Transformative Learning. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education (109), 15–26.

Finger

, & Asun

(2001). Pragmatism: a Genuine American Highway Adult Education at the Crossroads: Learning Our Way Out (pp. 29–61). London: Zed.

Ford

(2002). A Curriculum Design Manual for Theohgical Education. Eugene OR: Wipf and Stock.

Freire

(1972). Pedagogy of the Oppressed (M. B. Ramos, Trans.). Hamondsworth UK: Penguin Books.

Griffin

(2006). Didacticism: Lectures and Lecturing. In Jarvis

(Ed.), The Theory and Practice of Teaching (2nd ed., pp. 73–89). London: Routledge.

Gunnlaugson

(2005). Toward Integrally Informed Theories of Transformative Learning. Journal of Transformative Education, 3 (4), 331–353.

10.

Harris

R. A.

(2004). The Integration of Faith and Learning: A Worldview Approach. Eugene OR: Cascade Books.

11.

Hess

L. M.

(2008). Formation in the Worlds of Theological Education: Moving from “What” to “How”. Teaching Theology and Religion, 11 (1), 14–23.

12.

Hodgson

P. C.

(1999). God's Wisdom: Toward a Theology of Education. Louisville Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press.

13.

Hooks

(2003b). Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope. New York: Routledge.

14.

Kimoski

(2004). Evolving Dynamics of Formation. In Warford

M. L.

(Ed.), Practical Wisdom on Theological Teaching and Teaming (pp. 29–48). New York: Peter Lang.

15.

Kitchenham

(2008). The Evolution of John Mezirow's Transformative Learning Theory. Journal of Transformative Education, 6 (2), 104–123.

16.

Knowles

(1984). Contributions From Adult Education The Adult Learner: a Neglected Species (3rd ed., pp. 43–63). Houston Texas: Gulf Publishing.

17.

Knowles

Holton

, & Swanson

(1998). New Perspectives on Andiagogy Adult Learner: the Definitive Classic in Adult Education and Human Resource Development (pp. 133–152). Houston Texas: Gulf Publishing.

18.

Long

(2010) “Developing a Methodology for Teaching Theology: Incorporating Insights from Educational Philosophy, Theology and Quantitative Field Research.” A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Ministry at the Bible College of Victoria.

19.

Merriam

S. B.

(2004). The Role of Cognitive Development in Mezirow's Transformational Learning Theory. Adult Education Quarterly, 55(1), 60–68.

20.

Mezirow

(1995). Transformation Theory of Adult Learning In Defense of the Lefeworld Critical Perspectives on Adult Learning (PP. 39–70). Albany: State University of New York Press.

21.

Mezirow

(2003). Transformative Learning as Discourse. Journal of Transformative Education, 1 (1), 58–63.

22.

Moore

(2005). Is Higher Education Ready for Transformative Learning? A Question Explored in the Study of Sustainability. Journal of Transformative Education, 3 (1), 76–91.

23.

Palmer

(1993). To Know as We Are Known: Education as a Spiritual Journey. San Francisco: Harper.

24.

Palmer

(1998). The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life. San Francisco CA: Jossey-Bass.

25.

Palmer

(2003b). Toward a Spirituality of Higher Education. In D V. H. a. B. R. Agee (Ed.), Faithful Learning and the Christian Scholarly Vocation (pp. 75–84). Grand Rapids MI: William B Eerdmans.

26.

Stone

H. W

, & Duke

J. O.

(2006). How to Think Theologically (2nd ed.). Minneapolis: Fortress Press.

27.

Taylor

E. W.

(1997). Building Upon the Theoretical Debate: A Critical Review of the Empirical Studies of Mezirow's Transformative Learning Theory. Adult Education Quarterly, 48 (1), 34–59.

28.

Tolliver

D E.

, & Tisdell

E. J.

(2006). Engaging Spirituality in the Transformative Higher Education Classroom. In Taylor

E. W.

(Ed.), Teaching for Change: Fostering Transformative Teaming in the Classroom (pp. 37–47). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

29.

Tosey

(2002). The Learning Community: A Strategic Dimension of Teaching and Learning? In Jarvis

(Ed.), The Theory and Practice of Teaching (2nd ed., pp. 169–187). London: Routledge.

30.

Vella

(2000). Taking Teaming to Task: Creative Strategies for Teaching Adults. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

31.

Vella

(2002). Leaming to Listen, Learning to Teach. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

32.

Vella

(2004a). Conclusion: The Future of Dialogue Education Dialogue Education At Work: A Case Book (pp. 305–308). San Francisco CA: Jossey-Bass.

33.

Vella

(2004b). Introduction: Dialogue Education Today Dialogue Education At Work: A Case Book (pp. 1–10). San Francisco CA: Jossey Bass.

34.

Winkelmes

M.-A.

(2004). Formative Learning in the Classroom. In Warford

M. L.

(Ed.), Practical Wisdom: on Theological Teaching and Learning (pp. 161–179). New York: Peter Lang.