A couple at Church asked me how my teaching was going.

I teach Institute online for BYU-Pathway Worldwide. I was being trained at the time, and I told them it was unsettling and destabilizing because, I said, "I was doing everything wrong!" They looked disturbed and incredulous.

However, I wasn't kidding, and it is something I'm working on now, doing it right.

I was stuck in past practices and a past paradigm. I didn't have a chance to explain this to the couple at the time, but I now have something I can point to.

Brother Chad H. Webb is the second counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency. He manages the Seminary and Institute programs as well as other things. I point to his recent General Conference talk, That All May Be Edified.

This talk is a capsule version of everything I am being trained to do. It's a constant battle because the old paradigm persists, in my mind, current practices, and in the expectations of my students.

Changing all of this is difficult.

Consider Brother Webb's description of how things typically work and how they should work:
In the past, we may have thought of teaching as a chance for a parent or teacher to invite the Spirit into their own preparation and then share what they have learned with children or class members, whose role it has been to listen. But even more effective is when we, as learners, also come prepared and when teachers create learning experiences that foster personal revelation directly to our hearts and minds. Then, as we’re given opportunities to share what we are learning through our study and from the Holy Ghost, we help each other to be instructed and edified. As we apply gospel principles, the Spirit again bears witness of their truthfulness.

The change involves cultivating "diligent learning" instead of the passive approach so common to both teachers and students in the Church. 

Teachers should be fostering the desires and skills to be self-reliant gospel learners and actors, and for the students to step up and do their part to become self-reliant gospel learners.

We should take charge of our own testimonies.

As teachers, we can focus more on the learner’s progress, on meeting their needs, and on helping them to develop spiritual habits of lifelong discipleship. As learners, when we exercise our agency in the learning process, we signal to the Holy Ghost our willingness to be taught by Him.

Another aspect is focusing on Jesus Christ, his characteristics and attributes, in all our teaching and learning. Brother Webb gives a wonderful example:

At times, we may not immediately see the attributes of the Savior outlined in a scriptural account. For example, when reading about Nephi building a boat, we might focus only on Nephi. But focusing on the Savior can help us see that this record was not preserved to teach us about the greatness of Nephi but to show us the greatness of God—that He gives us strength to keep His commandments and delivers us in times of need. 

There are other aspects of Teaching in the Savior's Way, but what I've written should suffice for illustrative purposes.

Brother Webb's address is a wonderful summary of how we should be teaching and how we should be learning.


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