Adult Curriculum

What adult education curriculum would you suggest for various learners?

The first curriculum to consider is the congregation. The congregation, and its life together in community, is a primary educational resource for all members.

All aspects of congregational life help to form faith. The total fabric of congregational life – the quality of the worship, the extent of shared decision making, the priorities in the budget, the degree of commitment to social justice, the quality of educational program – educates Christian disciples.

To consider what curriculum would be best in your setting, first consider how learning is already happening through the ordinary experiences of congregational life. Ask the following questions:

• How are adults encouraged to examine their basic assumptions about life and its ultimate meaning?
• How do adults acquire the skills for the living of the faith and an assessment of contemporary culture?
• How is the gospel lived, communicated and explored in this faith community?
• How do adults experience Christian community in family, congregation, small groups and ecumenical encounters?
• How are adults involved in assessing local needs and discerning congregational priorities?
• How is Christian stewardship understood and experienced by adult?
• How do people personally serve the "least ones" (Mt 24:25)?
• How are adults involved in shaping public policy and making society more just?

Answers to these questions will give you an appreciation of what your congregation currently "teaches" through it way of experiencing life together. Answers to these questions may inspire the addition, removal or expansion of various curriculum, resources and adult education programs.

Once the an assessment of the existing state of adult education in your congregation is acquired, the following information on learning styles may suggest additional learning activities.

Linguistic Learner:

• likes to: read, write and tell story
• is good at: memorizing names, places, dates and trivia
• learns best by: saying, hearing and seeing words
• engage adult in discussion

Logical/Mathematical Learner:

• likes to: do experiments, figure things out, work with numbers, ask questions and explore patterns and relationships.
• is good at: math, reasoning, logic and problem solving.
• learns best by: categorizing, classifying and working with abstract patterns/relationships
• involve adults in problem solving

Spatial Learner:

• likes to: draw, build, design and create things, daydream, look at pictures/slides, watch movies and play with machines
• is good at: imagining things, sensing changes, mazes/puzzles and reading maps, charts
• learns best by: visualizing, dreaming, using the mind's eye and working with colors/pictures
• plan arts and crafts

Musical Learner:

• likes to: sing, hum tunes, listen to music, play an instrument and respond to music
• is good at: picking up sounds, remembering melodies, noticing pitches/rhythms and keeping time
• learns best by: rhythm, melody and music
• teach through songs, use music to set mood

Bodily/Kinesthetic Learner:

• likes to: move around, touch and talk and use body language
• is good at: physical activities (sports/dance/acting) and crafts
• learns best by: touching, moving, interacting with space and processing knowledge through bodily sensations
• use physical movement, games, dance

Interpersonal Learner:

• likes to: have lots of friends, talk to people and join groups
• is good at: understanding people, leading others, organizing, communicating, manipulating and mediating conflicts
• learns best by: sharing, comparing, relating, cooperating and interviewing
• include mingling and get-acquainted time

Intrapersonal Learner:

• likes to: work alone and pursue own interests
• is good at: understanding self, focusing inward on feelings/dreams, following instincts, pursuing interests/goals and being original
• learns best by: working alone, individualized projects, self-paced instruction and having own space
• make time for quiet reflection

Copyright © by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 8765 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631. 800/638-3522.  Produced by Christian Education of the Division for Congregational Ministries.

Permission is granted for congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to reproduce this resource for local use.