There is much to learn from how Jesus followed his heart in spreading the
good word while being inspired by the Holy Spirit. James et al. (2015)
examines several practical teaching techniques Jesus used in reaching his
followers. One of the methods discussed in the article is visual aids. Visual
aids, including multimedia in the classroom, fosters teacher-student engagement
and allow the student to be more involved and retain more information
(Bernstein et al., 2020). In addition, students are inundated with technology.
Visual aids help students be creative and comfortable with their learning
experience, making learning fun and relatable.
The Bible provides many examples where Jesus used visual aids to reach his
followers. "And Jesus sat opposite the treasury and watched the people putting
money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor
widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he
called his disciples to him and said, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has
put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. They all
contributed out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, has put in
everything she had, all she had to live on" (King James Version, 2022, Mark
12:41-44).
Jesus used this example to describe the importance of unselfish giving. The
Lord sees the hearts of men. When the widow deposited two small coins
instead of a large sum of money into the offering, Jesus used that as a visual
teaching moment to educate the disciples about the Kingdom of God. This
visual aid allowed people to pay attention to the meaning behind Jesus' words
and connect his words with action. The visual aid could better depict the act of
unselfish giving.
Visual aids can be effective in teaching Abnormal Psychology. Handouts that
illustrate pictures, diagrams, and maps can help the student navigate the
learning experience without having to read countless chapters. PowerPoint
presentations reduce the amount of content and use a simple point form.
Interactive online simulations allow students to test their knowledge and skills
by applying reading materials to interactive quizzes and assignments. TED talk
and YouTube allows students to watch brief videos on various mental health
topics, including ADHD, Personality Disorders, Anxiety, and Depression. Inviting
guest speakers, primarily individuals with a mental health diagnosis, to discuss
their Biopsychosocial model of mental illness. In a study by Ibe et al. (2019),
students instructed using audio-visual materials performed better than their
peers taught using the conventional method. The study indicated that students
using audio-visual material test scores were higher than conventional teaching
methods, an indicator of the importance of the learning process involving the
senses.
Is technology changing how humans learn or possibly rewiring how our brains
learn new things? I remember the process of acquiring new information about a
topic ten years ago that involves going to the library or even sitting for twenty
minutes on your computer. Presently, if I need to find out the population of
Italy, I ask Siri or Alexa. When I sit at the computer, I am encouraged to read
more about Italy.
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e Reference:
Bernstein, D. A., Frantz, S., & Chew, S. (2020). Teaching psychology: A step-by-
step guide. Routledge.
Ibe, E., & Abamuche, J. (2019). Effects of audiovisual technological aids on
students' achievement and interest in secondary school biology in Nigeria.
Heliyon, 5(6), e01812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01812 Links to
an external site.
James, G., Martinez, E., & Herbers, S. (2015). What can Jesus teach us about
student engagement? Journal of Catholic Education, 19(1), 129-154.
http://dx.doi.org/10.15365/joce.1901062015 Links to an external site.
King James Bible. (2022). King James Bible Online.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
