Tuesday, April 21, 2020

The Learning Cycle: Insights for Faithful Teaching from Neuroscience and the Social Sciences by Muriel I. Elmer and Duane H. Elmer – A Book Review

The Learning Cycle: Insights for Faithful Teaching from Neuroscience and the Social Sciences   


I found this book fascinating. As a retired teacher whose instruction during the last half of my career was largely based on the work of Dr. Marie Clay, P. David Pearson, and Ellin Oliver Keene, this teaching model resonated within me. The Elmers lay out the model in such a way that both application and justification can easily be understood by trained educators and those who find themselves in the role of instructor without formal training. While the model is presented as it relates to Christian education, it most certainly is not limited to that realm. There is something in this book that can be useful from kindergarten through college, although I will admit that those teaching in the primary and intermediate grades will need to do some additional thinking in the application of the model. That said, as a teacher in those grades, I would have been pouring over this book as I planned on how to best deliver instruction. The value in the Learning Cycle model is that it leads students to go far beyond learning for an assessment, to integrating and living out what they learn. This model applies not only to traditional educators, but to Scout leaders, Sunday School teachers, small group leaders, pastors, and even to those leading business meetings. To say that I am excited about this book, is a bit of an understatement, and I encourage those who want to make a difference in people's lives through the presentation of information, who want to assist people in learning for living not for parroting, to grab a copy of this book, a journal, and a pack of highlighters.

I am grateful to have received a copy of The Learning Cycle from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

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