Introduction
Preparing learning experiences for seminary can be a daunting task. It isn't easy to know where to start.
If you were just called to teach seminary and are expected to teach right away, see the article: I was recently called and need to teach seminary tomorrow. What do I need to know to be ready?
If you have more time to prepare, carefully study the content in this article. It is designed to equip you with simple skills to both effectively manage your time as well as prepare effective learning experiences. These learning experiences that you provide will rely on the scriptures as the primary source and utilize the seminary curriculum as your primary resource.
Before learning about and practicing these simple skills there are several foundational principles that are critical to understand about your role as a seminary teacher and the learning experience you provide for your students. Study these foundational principles in the following article: Foundational Principles about Preparing Learning Experiences in Seminary
Preparing the Learning Experience
Para descargar esta guía de preparación en español, haga clic aquí.
Your efforts to prepare learning experiences that help deepen your students' conversion to Jesus Christ can improve as you implement the following steps.
Begin Your Preparation with Prayer
Pray for your students, seeking guidance to meet their needs.
- Which student(s) do you feel a need to pray for, and why?
For more on this, see this article: Begin Preparation for a Seminary Learning Experience with Prayer
Adopt the Learning Experience in the Seminary Curriculum
For more information and training on these 4 steps, see this article: Adopt the Learning Experience in the Seminary Curriculum
Step 1: Identify the lesson purpose
Identify and mark the lesson purpose found in the last sentence of the introduction paragraph of the lesson. Determine if it is focused on helping students know, feel, or do.
- What relevant student needs, challenges, or questions will the lesson purpose help with?
- How can accomplishing this lesson purpose help students achieve the objective of Seminaries & Institutes?
Step 2: Find the bolded truth and carefully study the word of God
Find the bolded truth in the lesson.
Have your own experience with the word of God. Carefully study the scriptures and statements of church leaders that support the bolded truth. If possible, study the context of the verses. Mark phrases that you feel will help to identify the truth. Mark any other truths you see that would help support, clarify, or add emphasis to the bolded truth.
- How will the bolded truth help students accomplish the lesson purpose?
- How did your study increase your testimony of the truth you will teach?
Step 3: Identify what students do to demonstrate their learning according to the lesson purpose
Identify what students will do to demonstrate learning. (e.g., write, explain, share, plan, practice).
- How will doing this activity help you and the students know if the lesson purpose was achieved?
Step 4: Study the rest of the lesson as if you were a student
Complete the learning activities and answer the questions in the lesson as if you were a student.
- Which of these activities were meaningful to you and might be meaningful to your students?
- How do the activities align with the lesson purpose?
Outline the learning experience, making adaptations if necessary
Outline your lesson using ideas from the curriculum. As you do, make adaptations you feel necessary to meet your student’s needs. You might organize your outline using each of the sections below with time estimates for each section. For more information and training on creating your outline, see this article: Outline the Seminary Learning Experience, Making Adaptations If Necessary
Outline
Interesting and relevant beginning
- How will you prepare an interesting and relevant beginning for your students?
Identify truth in the word of God
- How will you help students identify truth(s) in the word of God?
Deepen learning with the lesson purpose in mind
- How will you help students deepen learning of the truth(s) identified? (know, feel, or do)
Demonstrate learning
- How will you have students demonstrate learning?
Final Considerations
Before making adaptations...
- Is my adaptation in harmony with the promptings of the Holy Ghost and principles of Christlike teaching found in Teaching in the Savior’s Way?
- Does the adaptation reflect the intent of the inspired author?
- Do I understand how my adaptation can affect future lessons and assessment experiences for students?
Principles of Christlike Teaching
- How does your outline of the learning experience incorporate the principles of Christlike teaching?
- Which principles, if any, need greater emphasis? Make these adjustments to your outline.
Para ver la versión en español de este artículo, haga clic aquí.
To provide feedback to the seminary curriculum team, email us at ces-manuals@ChurchofJesusChrist.org
To access additional helpful resources, click on the images below.