Kingdom Learning

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”  Matthew 10:31-32 (The Message)

One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: "Let the children alone, don't prevent them from coming to me. God's kingdom is made up of people like these." After laying hands on them, he left. 

Matthew 19:13-15 (The Message)

We visited Disney World this last year and were again impressed with the pilgrimage from around the world.  We had fun seeing the excitement in the eyes of our grandchildren as well as the memories of this place.   What was a favorite in the Magic Kingdom was the “It’s a Small World” ride that celebrates children and their cultures. 

The learning issues that confront us are similar to what we experienced in the Magic Kingdom.  We have been challenged by the expansion of information and information technology and we are like children learning how to explore this big world of ideas and information.   The question is how to approach this “big” problem?  Will we approach it from the “bottom” or the “top”.  The answer in the past has generally been, top/down with assigned educational goals and objectives.  

Microlearning starts at the bottom with small learning groups confronted with a care challenge.  Beside the learners there is a guide who asks  the questions and facilitates getting the answers and applying them.  It is much like the “mustard seed” approach.  It starts small and then grows!  The other similarity is, it is how we learn when we are children.  Small, simple steps that can have a “kingdom” impact on the lives around us.

Marvin

from Tenwek Hospital, Kenya