EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

...according to Wikipedia is the process of making meaning from direct experience,

i.e., "learning from experience". [ 1] The experience can be staged or left open.

 

"For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them". -Aristotle

 

 (Elka and Brodie 2014)

 

I look at photos of Elka and Brodie on the Great Wall of China and I think back on the books we've read,

the talks we've had, even the photos and videos they've seen of Aida on the Great Wall years ago...

 

 (Aida 2011)
 

...and I think about how different it is to learn from experience, to smell the smells for themselves, to eat the foods, to be in China on the Great Wall learning even more about what they've studied! What a blessing to learn in such a way.

What a gift to have the time and freedom to study by living it.

 

 

The history they've witnessed,

 

 

the Buddhism they've seen in the temple,

 

 

the cultural experiences they've taken in,

 

 

 

not to mention the intensive heart work and spiritual growth that takes place when they cry with their grieving, newly adopted sibling, ache for her pains as if they are theirs, take in with all of their senses where it is she's come from...

 

 

This is experiential learning and there's no education of the mind or heart that I could

hope more for my children than what they're absorbing right now.

 

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts,

kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another."

Colossians 3:12



KEEPERS OF THE FAITH

      

Over the years, we have participated in Keepers of the Faith both in the context of

groups as well as independently just within our own home. It's a really sweet resource.

 

The idea is similar to Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts in that the children earn badges as they acquire
skills and memorize Scripture, and everything is approached from a biblical perspective.
For boys, they offer Contenders for the Faith and for girls, Keepers at Home.

 

In the past, when we have participated in groups, we have had t-shirts, sashes, and pins. But one group we were part of chose to simply have the meetings for fellowship and fun without even ordering all of the extras. Typically, we have met once a month, which feels about right for this type of involvement. We've forged friendships while learning new things (like knitting which we had always hoped to learn!). We've also enjoyed various outreach opportunities like singing for the folks of a local retirement home (outreach being something we're always looking to participate in as a family!).

 

At home, Aida in particular enjoys working through the handbook on her own.

She asks me to sign off on things she achieves and finds it very rewarding.

 

We're thankful for Keepers of the Faith as an extra curricular resource we've taken advantage of, both independently at home, as well as socially. There've been many memories made...and I'm sure there will be many more!

"Teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste,
keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."
Titus 2:4-5
 

"Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary
to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints."
Jude 1:3