I am a big proponent of discussion-centered teaching in the gospel classroom. The following is the premise, preparation, and method of presentation I use when I teach. It fits my personality and experience.

Discussion-Centered Teaching

Underlying Assumptions:

1)      People come to class to have an experience more than to just learn something.

2)      All people have a desire to be heard, listened to, understood, and validated.

3)      The more a person participates the greater the experience.

4)      When a person formulates thoughts and feelings into words and then expresses them, there commitment level to those ideas, principles, and ideals are strengthened.  The less time between formulation and expression the better.

5)      The here, me, and now is always more impactful than the there, them, and then.

6)      Experiences expressed by the person who had the experience are more powerful than reading about it, or having another read or tell about it.  Therefore, it is more powerful to experience the thoughts/feelings of those who are in attendance than those who are not (living or dead).

7)      Teachers are more effective when they facilitate the comments of others rather than their own.

8)      To maximize the effect of a discussion-centered class, a safe environment must be created.

9)      The Spirit is freer to influence and operate when the pace of the class is not forced. 

10)  No teacher can individualize the lesson to each person in attendance, only the Spirit can.

11)  It is more important for the teachers to prepare themselves than it is a lesson.

12)  Questions are the best method to stimulate discussion.  Especially questions that make you think, explore, look inward, ponder, and pray.  Follow-up questions aid in this process.

13)  The Lord through the Holy Ghost will make sure everything that needed to be covered in the lesson material will be covered.  As mortals, we don’t know what those in attendance need to hear and experience, but the Spirit does. Trying to micro-manage the process will hinder the Spirit’s influence on the process and those in attendance.  If allowed, it will flow without compulsory means.

14)  It is more important that class members experience the love, peace, and influence of the Spirit than that everything in the manual is covered.

Preparation.

To have the maximum classroom experience the student’s preparation needs to be as

extensive as the instructors.  The following are the steps I use to prepare for a gospel

lesson (as a student or instructor).

1)      Start a week ahead.

2)      Read and study the manual or scriptural assignment.

3)      Read and study scriptural cross-references and support material.

4)      Write down as many principles as you can find in the assigned lesson or required reading.

5)      Pray and ask what principles you should focus on for the coming lesson.

6)      Ponder, pray, and meditate on these principles during the week.

7)      Draft (8-15) questions based on the lesson manual or scripture assignment that will facilitate discussion around these principles.

8)      At the end of the week formulate your thoughts and feelings and write them down.

9)      When you go to class leave all reference material, quotes, pictures, maps, notes, slips of paper, etc, behind.  Bring only your scriptures and list of questions.

Presentation

When I teach my focus is on drawing people out, facilitation of discussion, and delving deeper into a handful of principles selected from the lesson material.  It is important to be relaxed and patient. Here are some of the rules I go by.

1)      Begin with asking the class if they have anything they would like to share from their preparation for today’s lesson.  Did anything touch them or stick out for them from studying the lesson manual or reading assignment?  What insights were gained or questions arose in their lesson preparation?  Are there any questions they would like to put to the class (the whole class time might be taken up in this process, if not then ask your first question)?

2)      Start on your list of questions. Ask your questions one at a time.  Never let a question go unanswered and never answer your own questions or even those of others.  Do not promote the premise that the teacher is the source or final authority for answers or questions. 

3)      Let the class dictate the pace and direction by remaining with the discussion of each question you or others ask until there is no more comments or hands raised pertaining to the present question, before moving on to the next.

4)      Facilitate discussion. Draw people out and listen patiently.  Ask follow-up questions, especially to those who give stereotyped answers.  Always thank people for their comments.  After each comment ask for more comments from others.  Whenever you ask a question or for more comments, be calm, be patient, use silence to give class members the space to formulate their thoughts and feelings.  Ad-lib, if class member comments trigger additional questions in your mind, then ask, and encourage class members to ask questions.

5)      Have your spiritual antenna up. Don’t be afraid to call on people who do not raise their hand, if the Spirit dictates.  Look in people’s eyes to gain discernment, if you notice that a person has just had an “ah-ha” experience, immediately call on them by asking if there is anything they would like to share.  Personal revelation is enhanced if expressed.   The Spirit will let you know whether to go forward or back off.

6)      Focus on creating a safe and real environment.   A feeling of safety is created when we are patient and don’t rush people, people will feel valued if we are interested in what they have to say, and the underlying message will be communicated that they are more important than the content of the lesson. 

7)      If we are real, it creates the opportunity for them to be real.  For example, if we can see we are losing the interest of the group, then stop and say, “I seem to be losing you, what did I do wrong, what can I do to get you back?”  People will instantly come to your rescue.  Realness will facilitate a “we are all in this together” atmosphere. When we assume a role there will always be a barrier.  Being real is attempting to express what you are thinking and feeling in that very moment, and this will mirror the behavior you want from class members.  People, whether they know it or not, are not coming to class to learn, but to experience the gospel, to feel the presence of the Spirit, and to express what is inside.  The more you can assist in bringing it from the there, them, and then, to the here, me and now, the greater the experience will be.

8)      Testify as often as prompted, and encourage others to testify as prompted.

Discussion-centered teaching is an approach that is easily learned and mastered.  Even if you don’t think you have fully mastered it, I firmly believe you will be more effective than the most practiced and experienced gospel teachers who employ the traditional style of lecture and fast paced over-programmed unilateral flow of information.