Orality Journal Volume 3, Number 1, 2014 | Page 13

Creating Learning Communities

11

Creating Learning Communities: How Educators
Can Enhance Learning through Cohorts
by D. Scott Barfoot, W Rodman MacIlvaine III, and Jeanne R. Ballard
.

D. Scott Barfoot is the director of Dallas Theological Seminary’s Doctor
of Ministry program; he aspires to equip and empower global executive,
pastoral, and educational ministry leaders who impact the next generation
for the cause of Christ.
W Rodman Macllvain III is pastor of Grace Community Church, Bartlesville
.
and fellow with the Veritas Worldview Institute at Oklahoma Wesleyan
University. He also serves as the U.S. Director of the Simiente Misionera,
an innovative church planter training school in the Spanish speaking
Caribbean.
Jeanne R. Ballard is a recent D.Min. graduate serving as an administrator
for the Doctor of Ministry program at Dallas Theological Seminary. She
draws from over thirty eight years of ministry experience with a heart for
mentoring and equipping future ministry leaders.

I

n 1973, Malcolm Knowles
published The Adult Learner:
A Neglected Species in order
to address the needs of the
adult learner in an educational
environment. He uses the term
“andragogy” in contrast to
“pedagogy” (the art and science of
educating children) to emphasize
the distinctive characteristics of
adult education.
Although Knowles wrote about
andragogy in 1973, it has been a
part of adult learning theory and
technique since ancient times. The
great prophets and philosophers
understood learning as a process

of active inquiry on the part of
the learner. Jesus modeled learnerfocused teaching techniques
throughout his earthly ministry.
The andragogy model contains
several elements. The instructor
first lets the learners know why it
is important to learn something.
Next, the instructor shows the
learners how to gain the relevant
information. Third, the learner is
aided in relating the information
to his or her own experience.
At this stage, motivation and
readiness to learn are essential
components. Thus, the instructor
helps the learner to overcome any