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To reinforce what has been learnt about the four learningdomains, an essay is set:

Describe and explain the functions of the four learning domainsusing illustrations from daily life and from Scripture.

The following is a suggested model answer.

Essay Outline:

The Four Learning Domains

Essay overview:Introduction: What do we mean by learning?

The 4 Domains: Know - Do - Be - UnderstandDistinguishing Contentfrom Process,

and two kinds ofDoingTwo Examples the Bicycle Repairer & Washing UpAn Analogy the PyramidAn example from Scripture Apollos

Conclusion: Learning theology is like repairing a bicycleor constructing a pyramid!

Introduction

The English word learningcan refereither to that which is learnt (content)

or to the process of learning itself.Thus a man of much learning might be expected to know a lot!

But if students are said to be learning from writing essays,what is being referred to is the process by which they have learnt.

Theological Education covers many areas of study(content),e.g. Biblical Studies Christian Doctrine

Practical / Pastoral Theology Philosophy / ApologeticsContemporary Studies Communication / MissiologyChurch History

Each area includes many separate subjects(also content).e.g. Christian Doctrine covers such subjects as

The Trinity Redemption

The Second Coming of Christ Sin

Learning, considered as process however, occurs in areas of adifferent

kind, called domains, areas of thinking activity that havedistinctive characteristics operating within defined limits.

There are 4 such domains in which the process of learning mustoccur if the learner is to develop his learning fully.

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The Four Domains described

KNOWLEDGE (Cognitive Domain)Knowing: acquiring information / knowledge

SKILLS (Functional Domain)Doing: acquiring skills (how to do things)

FORMATION (Affective Domain)Being: acquiring character (attitude / behaviour)

WISDOM (Prudential Domain)Understanding: acquiring insight (into design & relationship of things)and gaining awareness ofpurpose

Generally (but not in everysubject or context in the curriculum ofT.E.)

these 4 learning domains should be equallydeveloped forbalanced growth.

Important Distinctions

1. We must not confuse learnings content (the things learnt) with the

process of learning itself.Content is about information, fields of STUDY, SUBJECTS taught

and RESOURCE material;Process is about the tasks of KNOWING, UNDERSTANDING and

DOING things, and alsothe process of changing BEHAVOUR (attitude / character / will).

Note on Obedience: It follows that (on the basis just outlined)obedience is learntnot by doing (which refers only to the performance of skills),but by being (i.e. learning obedience as character is

changed).So doing is about acquiring skills (not attitudes);being (in T.E.) is about behaviour- becoming more like Christ.

Thus when God commands His people todo all that I commanded you to do,

He is requiring not some skill or ability (DOING Domain),but rather obedient behavour (BEING Domain)

Every-day Examples

a) The Bicycle Repairer

These 4 learning fields are found in all lifes activities from writing aletter to:a) Repairing a Bicycle: needs Knowledge of the Bicycle parts;

Understanding of how they fit together /function;

Skill to do the job, and a good Attitude to get it done well.

b) Washing upRequires knowing what soap to us, understanding why we need hotwater, not cold, doing the job efficiently & being careful about it.

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All Four Domains equally essential: An Analogy

The PyramidA pyramid: building used for burying Pharaohs in Egypt

with triangular sides starting at ground level as a squareand rising to a peak.

Its significance as a comparison with the 4 learning domains:4 sides are integral to each other for mutualsupport.Apex is reached only when all 4 sides are present in equal

proportions.

The Example of ApollosActs 18:24-8 shows Apollos as a preacher well advanced in

Knowledge, Skills, Formation, but lacking Wisdom (incertain aspects of the Gospel).

He was well informed/instructed (knowing),taught accurately & spoke eloquently (doing), but neededPriscilla / Aquila to explain the Way of God (understanding)more adequately.(Eloquently couldbe translated full of spiritual fervour,i.e. a reference then to his being.)

Conclusion

Learning theology is like

repairing a bicycle - all four fields are involved

washing up

buildinga pyramidin that all 4 domains are equally neededfor the balanced development of the learner.

Seminarians should ask themselves:

Why did I come to Seminary? Was it:

to gain knowledge about / to learn more about my faith / theBible (what I should believe / what is in it)?

to have time to thinkabout life / theology / God (why things

are the way they are / God does what He does)?

to learn how to preach well / evangelise effectively / managea church congregation efficiently?

to become a pastor/ church worker who cares about his /her peoples economic, social, political and religious problems?

Are all of the above areas represented in my reasons for coming?- Or only some of them?- How can I have a balanced attitude to my Seminary training?

We see that these 4 domains apply to

Most common tasks / activities like mending a bike

Writing essays Seminary education and training

Ministry & life

One padri successfully applied these principles to Group Bible Study,by asking of a passage: What does information does it give us?What insights to under-standing? What skills does it convey?What right attitude does it teach?