I’ve recently had the chance to dive back into a little continued learning with a group of colleagues and it’s been super refreshing. I’m not a school classroom kind of guy so the style of this learning is really effective for me. While I’d much rather the interactions be in person we all have to make the most of these moments no matter how they come.

In a recent session with this group we discussed in general terms a variety of learning styles and growth strategies. While this may be scary for some and boring for others, to me it was wonderfully applicable. The three approaches are information, imitation and innovation. This goes along with the whole nursing adage of see one, do one, teach one. It’s really nothing new but I feel we’ve gotten away from it a bit in our technologically comfortable world.

Information

The concept we called information is very much a classroom lecture type of approach. Our schools by and large use this approach to teaching. We spit out information and the students are responsible for soaking it up. This is also how lectures, business programs, and even many churches approach their task. They have set information and they see their role as merely data dumping, puking up facts, pushing papers, communicating truths.

But if we only dump facts we’re left with a take it or leave it situation. And given our post modern views of all truth being relative that information you just spent time dumping on the learner, they can determine for themselves if they want to listen to it or if it’s just junk to them. Information is critical but it’s one part of a three phase approach.

Imitation

Another element of the teaching/learning model is that of imitation. Do we give our learners the time and space to put their learning into practice with specific guidelines and even some direction and personal guidance. It’s said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. So are we giving the learners in our setting something worth imitating? Or are we just throwing facts at them like pasta at a wall and seeing what sticks?

Imitation is how many trade professions learn their task. They get the head knowledge from classes and books then they’re paired up with a mentor who they are to shadow. This mentor will guide them and direct them on how to do the job properly. Little by little you take on new tasks that apply the information you learned in real life scenarios and situations.

Innovation

The third portion here is innovation. This is giving someone the ability and the space and permission and even encouragement to start something new and then taking your hands off. The last part of that is the hard part. Giving something over to someone else isn’t easy because they aren’t going to do it your way. Then taking your hands off and walking away to let them make it their own is really challenging.

In my world as a pastor the past year has been about innovation of approach while keeping the information constant and trying to find space for imitation to still happen when we can’t even be in the same room at times. When we find our identity tied to one of these approaches we’ll quickly grow weary and eventually hit the wall of depression and exhaustion when our approach doesn’t seem to be working like it used to work.

Some practical questions:

  • Which of these three is most comfortable for you?
  • Which is the most difficult?
  • Which of these, if implemented, could bring the greatest impact on your life, family, organization?
  • How does your approach need to change to better serve the people