Effectual Learning and Teaching: The Ah Ha Moment

Ah ha moments in the classroom can be the most rewarding for a teacher. An ah ha moment is when you are teaching a concept and a learning light blinks across their face. It is almost a tangible or audible moment when you see the student "get it." It is then that you know that whatever is being taught has been received at a cognitive level of understanding, and as with most girls, a level of emotional process follows.

Example: the other day I was trying to share the insight that my students have a very limited amount of time to spend learning about spiritual things. Most people will admit that most of their understand of the doctrines and principles of the gospel are learned between the ages of 14-18 while they are in high school seminary. Accepting that as truth, I then shared with them a mathematical equation (of which I neither profess to be great at nor understand most of the time. I'll leave that up to Blaine.)

In a 180 day school year on an A/B schedule I see my kids for 90 days. I teach 70 minute class periods. 70x90= 6300 minutes per year. 6300 minutes x 4 years = 25200 minutes. 25200 / 60 minutes in an hour = 420 hours. 420 / 24 hours in a day = 17.5 days.

When I shared that equation and finished up by saying , "In reality, you are only in seminary for 17.5 days." several students faces lit up as they realized how crucial timing is to learning all they need to know for a successful life in the Church, they were shocked and amazed. It was rewarding to see them "get it." Learning and teaching was effectuated that day, and oh what a day.