Facilitating Adult Learning and Faith Formation

Course Summary

This course builds on Course Three by looking at important foundations and principles for adult learning and principles for facilitating adult learning and faith formation for all ages of adults. This course may appear to be academic, but it seeks to explore the insights and building blocks for understanding adult learning and faith formation today. While looking at different approaches to adult learning, each session will focus on specific principles for facilitating adult learning.

This course is part of a specialized Certificate in Adult Formation Leadership and is meant to be taken as part of a sequence. This course presupposes knowledge in the previous courses. Refer to the certificate page for more information.

Successful completion of this course earns 2.5 CEU's.

General Course Objectives

• Clarify basic assumptions about adult learning.
• Understand the natural and cyclic pattern of adult learning.
• Review different approaches/styles/motives in adult learning/faith formation.
• Discover the role of the brain, mind and intelligence in adult learning.
• Appreciate the role and preparation of facilitators for adult learning/faith formation.
• Learn important principles and approaches for facilitating adult learning/faith formation.
• Develop strategies for facilitating different adult learning styles.

Course Materials

• Required Book: Mackeracher, Dorothy Making Sense of Adult Learning University of Toronto Press, 2004 ISBN: 978-0802037787
  • Order here
• Required Book: Regan, Jane Toward an Adult Church: A Vision of Faith Formation Loyola Press, 2002 ISBN: 978-0829418064
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• Required Book: Hawkins, Thomas R. The Learning Congregation Product Details * Paperback: 160 pages * Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press; 1st edition (January 1997) ISBN: 978-0664256999
  • Order here

Course Structure and Highlights

• Week 1: Basic Assumptions About Adult Learning
  • Discover a learning/learner-centered approach for adults.
  • Learn the principles of different philosophical approaches to the adult-learning process.
  • Discover basic assumptions about learning and the adult learner.
  • Appreciate the importance of self-direction in adult learning/faith formation.
  • Understand the importance of past and prior learning for future adult learning.
  • Appreciate the difference between leader, teacher and facilitator.
  • Discover principles for adult learning and facilitation.
• Week 2: Cycles and Styles in Adult Learning
  • Appreciate the cycles of adult learning.
  • Relate learning cycles to the catechetical process.
  • Discover the importance of knowing the different learning styles for adults.
  • Learn ways to facilitate different learning styles for adult learning and faith formation.
• Week 3: Brain, Mind, Emotions and Motives in Adult Learning
  • Discover how the relationship between the body, mind and brain impacts learning.
  • Appreciate the types of learning from different sides of the brain.
  • Learn different strategies for perceiving, remembering and thinking.
  • Understand different intelligences and the implications for adult learning and faith formation.
  • Discover the importance of motives for adult learning.
  • Learn how to apply learning and facilitating principles.
• Week 4: The Role of Skills and Relationships in Adult Learning and Faith Formation
  • Appreciate the role of a prepared facilitator in adult learning and faith formation.
  • Discover the role of learning ministerial skills in a theological and scriptural context.
  • Understand the importance of different types of questions for learning.
  • Learn principles for facilitating skill learning.
  • Appreciate the role of relationships in learning.
  • Foster adult learning and faith formation in a changing world.
• Week 5: Environment and Context for Adult Learning and Strategies for Facilitating Adult Learning
  • Discover the impact of physical and cultural environments on adult learning.
  • Discover the role and impact of technology on adult learning.
  • Learn strategies and styles for facilitating adult learning and faith formation.
  • Create approaches for preparing facilitators for adult learning and faith formation.

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