It has been another 2 weeks after my Revelation class at ACTS College. I must say that within these 4 weeks I have stuffed a lot of things in my mind which have yet to be analysed and follow up with the necessary action. I actually feel lost and empty as to what to write for this blog. I need to quiet down, reflect and pray to be truthful in what I write.   
       

           It had been over thirty years when I was in NIE learning how to teach. This learning seminar is not a refresher course for me but another learning journey in this new season of my life. I get to learn of many new learning theories on the first day of the course.  Brother Casey explored with us the new challenges and opportunities of teaching in this present age. He discussed the phases of course planning and the types of decisions made and learning objectives. He discussed and identified the importance and strategies for motivating students and developing learning community. He also explored with us the different teaching techniques. I am sure he will give us more “gifts” on the last day of the seminar.  Allow me to share just 3 of the gifts I had received so far.     

Firstly, the session on “the attributes of a teacher” has allowed me to reassess myself. Discussion on the “espoused theory” versus the “theory in use” was heart searching for me. I must admit that many times I am responsive to students only in theory but not in practice. I still have much reservations and hence not able to be in “full disclosure”. I realise that if I am teaching in school I am more “distant” from the students compare to when I do home-tutoring. In tutoring, the environment has less constraints and the teacher-student ratio is much smaller. Hence I can exercise my “personhood” and spirituality. That is I can share personal experiences with them, pray with them and invite them to church.

          Secondly, my guest teacher, sister Davina shared with us “Education as Hospitality, Teacher as Host”. To me, it was like part II of what she shared on hospitality while being guest teacher at the Matthean Adventure. She presented us with a new “revelation”- God as Host. She explored divine hospitality in the Pentateuch with us as well as Jesus as host in the New Testament, and lastly the early faith communities as host. The summary is that the host provides, protects and cares. She taught us how to perceive care in higher education and the role reversal of guest and host.  I am reminded again that when I send my guest away I must ensure that they are provided with what they need to reach the next destination. Her sharing has caused me to evaluate whether I have given my guest or students with enough food after every session- that is directions, encouragement, motivation or affirmation to last them through the week before the next session. That actually means I need to ensure I strategize, plan and prepare my sharing session with greater diligence and personhood.  In the context of hospitality, guest and host can reveal their most precious gifts and bring new life to each other.  Gifts is not just in materialistic form.  They can be in unmeasurable but observable form like prayer and encouragement and knowledge. I must also learn to receive students’ assignments as gifts for me because they really put in their effort and hard work. She warned us that to be a host, it can be messy, risky and offensive because boundaries or rules need to be set as point of reference for the guest to relate to us.

          Thirdly, during the preparation of the revision of the course syllabus and micro-teaching on general psychology, I applied the so called “self-regulated learning”- what Yun Yun and Issac has promoted or presented. I used to think of - what should Christian think of psychology? Since I need to tackle this topic I tried to learn more on my own about this topic. Many theories in psychology have flaws and weaknesses and are yet to be proven correct. However knowing certain aspect of the research work in psychology is beneficial and helpful, for example the physiological aspect of how the brain and nervous system function.  The Bible is the key to true psychology; the pure revelation of the psychology of man must come from his creator.  If psychology is the study of man's mental, emotional and behavioural aspects, then there is no other source with any comparable degree of authority as the Word of God to unmask the heart and mind of man and to tell him the “why” of his darkened mind and the evil intent of his heart.  There can be no understanding of the science of man’s psychical makeup, of the way he thinks and acts, of the emotional and mental crack-ups and enslavement to all kinds of evil and immoral habits without taking into consideration the fact of his fallen nature. To us Christians, it is clear that there can be no permanent complete cure for man's psychological illnesses outside of the “new creation” in Christ Jesus. The psychologists say the answer is in psychiatry and psychology but the Bible says the answer is in the regeneration which brings a man back into harmony and fellowship with God. I am still reading up on modern psychology.

 I had enjoyed this seminar very much even though I had much distractions. My classmates are fantastic and fun people. The presentations were full of laughter and joy. The lecturer and guest teacher are hospitable and interesting and passionate in their delivery.  Appreciate my buddy, Sheryl for her hard work and contribution. I see many young people in our midst rising up to be teachers of righteousness. Glory be to God! And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Dan 12:3 KJV)