Raising the Bar

[Note to the reader: this is the third in a series of articles applying James Lang’s teaching and learning approaches to small group learning in the church. To read all the articles in the series click on the small teaching category below the post title.]We’ve all done it. We’ve waited until the day before an important exam and stayed up into the wee hours of the night trying to cram our head full of the knowledge we think we will need to successfully pass the exam. The next morning we crawl into the classroom barely aware of the scantron or blue book in front of us. And then we wait with the dread usually reserved for the climax of a Stephen King novel. The week passes until the grades are posted and low and behold we did it! We passed! Not only did we pass but we smashed the test and got an A. We were above the class average. We’ve all been there at least once.Here’s the thing, though. The research says that “crammers” frequently score better on tests than people who space their study sessions over time. But, and this is a very big but, when given the test again in one month, people who cram can only recall about 20% of the test material. The test-taker who spaced their learning over several sessions, however, scored slightly better than they did the first time. That’s right, without any additional studying, they scored higher on the same material than they did the first time.So, what is our goal as teachers of the Bible: short-term or long-term recall? Obviously, long-term. We want the word of God to seep down deep into our hearts and minds and the hearts and minds of the participants in our group. So, how do we take advantage of this phenomenon in our teaching? First, as we prepare to lead, start early in the week. Read the focal passage of Scripture for the next week on Sunday evening. Or if the lesson is more topical, read through the lesson on Sunday. This initial reading doesn’t have to be long, but it should be focused. Then on Monday or Tuesday, read through the lesson again, but this time focus on one particular aspect of the passage or lesson. Then again on Wednesday or Thursday, revisit the lesson focusing on a new portion of the passage or lesson and reviewing what you have already studied. This is a rather minimal approach, so by all means feel free to spend more time in preparation. On Saturday or Sunday morning, read through the lesson one last time with a focus on the main points, the “take home” points, for the lesson.I may have surprised you in that last paragraph. You may have expected me to direct my comments toward learners. But before we can be teachers we must be learners. So take the time and opportunity to become greater learners first, then teachers. Nevertheless, the process I have described above for Bible study leaders is the same one you can encourage in your study participants. Ask participants to read the focal passage or lesson through early in the week. Ask them to review the lesson at least once, if not more times later in the week. You might think that people won’t do it, but you will be surprised: People will absolutely rise to challenge. All we have to do as Bible study leaders is ask. Sure there will be a few who just want to show up and have an uninformed Bible discussion rather than a Bible study. But as you continue to ask participants for increasing commitment, the culture of the group will begin, perhaps slowly, to shift. Not only will participants being learning more, but it will be sticking with them. Over time level of preparation, discussion, and transformation into the likeness of Christ will become the norm rather than the exception.