My primary journal this semester was, “Teaching Theology and Religion.” My initial search for a journal surprised me. How? Because I just did not find many of them at all, at least that suited my interests and needs. But this one was the best of the lot. It always has three sections – one for in-depth articles written by teachers in the field, another on practical teaching ideas or activities that have been used successfully, and the last a review of books related to the area. This journal was obviously designed with teachers in mind. It is excellent. I have enjoyed every article I have read and know that I will continue to go back to it. It is actually a way to “gather” or gain from peers far and wide. Yes, there is also a way to reply and comment about articles. It’s well done.
But I must also confess that as much as I have gained from this journal, I have received just as much from the sharing of my classmates from their journals. This was a real revelation for me. You would think that this would not be so relevant when the subjects we are covering are so different from one another. But what I have learned from this is that there is a universality to teaching that is greater than this. Teaching ideals, methods, approaches that can be used in one field can also, with some thought, be effectively adapted to your own. The point is that I do not wish to limit myself to just journals that are directly related to my areas of interest. I have learned that quite often I will find great help and insights from unexpected sources, even ones that seem at first to have no relevance or interest at all. If I am ever part of a college, I may well encourage my peers to continue this practice.
In a more general way, I have also learned the need for continuing education. I am required to have so many hours of it as clergy each year. I would do this anyway. But I think it is just as important for teachers. Reading journals is one great way to to do this. Journals often share articles that are on the cutting edge of things. They not only inform but challenge and stretch us. They can also renew us, give us new energy, help keep us from getting in a rut. It is easy to just keep on doing things the way we always have. That is more difficult to do when you read a journal that shares new and exciting things your peers are doing. It stimulates you to want to experiment, to get out of your comfort zone, to learn something new yourself. For I am convinced as never before that the key to effective teaching is that we are always learning and growing ourselves, challenging ourselves, not settling for what is or was, but striving for what we can be and do. That will not only provide a powerful model for students, it will impact all we do. I have found that reading journals helps do all of this.
Bass
