The Levels Of Learning - One Layer At A Time

John 2:18 - 19    

So the Jews answered and said to Him, What sign do you show to us, since You do these things?  Jesus answered and said to them “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

The Perfect Fit

Have you ever noticed how a small key looks like will fit perfectly into a electrical outlet......well, if you were on the floor crawling around you would.  Babies are curios how things work, and the outlets are in their clear view.  

What Would You Say?

Let’s say that you’re the adult and you see your baby with a small key or metal object. Then you see that the baby is about to push the key into the outlet.  Are you going to say, “baby, if you do that, alternating current (ac) will pass though the metallic object and follow the path of least resistance, which will be you.  This will  result in an current to be sent through your hand and body to complete the circuit with knees on the floor acting as a ground source?”  No, you’re not going to say that, you’re going to say, “STOP, NO, Don’t do that!”  That is all the baby needs to know, right?  If you tried to explain the entire process to them, it would not make a bit of sense to them.  All the baby needs to know at this point is not to do that because you said so, or maybe because it will hurt them.  

The Levels Of Learning

So what does this analogy have to do with leadership or teaching methods?  Well, as a teacher or leader, we need to teach in levels.  You know, walk before run.  For instance, when I teach students how to repair a dent, I first explain the process.  Then I demonstrate how to do it.  Then the student needs to perform the task.  At first, they are going to do it because that was how I taught them.  Then with a little practice, the student will start to understand why they are doing it the way that I taught them.  They may discover that they have questions about the process.  At this point, the student should be able help and teach other students the concepts.  Then the student forms their own opinion and determine if they can tweak the technique to fit them better.  Lastly, the student is fully competent of repairing a dent on their own without questions.  As a teacher, we need to help the student discover how to do things on their own.  If we give the student every answer before they have enough knowledge to ask the question, then the student will not receive a deep level of learning.  Therefore, give them what they need to know to get started, them help them discover and ask the right questions.  

One Thing At A Time

Back to the story above.  When the child get older, he or she may ask, why will that hurt me?  Then you can give them a better explanation.  It’s like peeling onion, we need to reveal one layer at a time.  

Where's Your Sign

I believe that this is why Jesus gave the answer that he did when he was asked to show them a sign.  He knew that they would not understand what all was going to take place.  However, he told his disciples enough information so they would understand it when the time was right.  

Lessons Learned

1. To teach, lead or manage someone, teach them in levels. Never try to give more than they can understand at one time. Instead, teach them one step at a time. The more that you can help others discover the answers and/or enough knowledge to ask the right questions the better they will learn it. 

Bloom's Taxonomy

In education the levels of learning has been described by the bloom's taxonomy. You can see the levels in the diagram below. This as been developed to help us realize how people learn. However, I think Jesus knew and used a similar teaching style long before the bloom's taxonomy was in existence.