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Adult
Curriculum
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Published in 1994 by Greater Washington Association Religious Education Council
Available from Alphabet Soup, 203 West Glendale Avenue, Alexandria, VA; 703 549-4951 |
First Steps: Planning for Adult Religious EducationBy Betty Jo Middleton
- Theme and Description
- First Steps is a process guide to help congregations strengthen a pre-existing adult religious education program or create a new one. Although it is intended for a group, it can also serve as a workbook for an individual. The topics of the six sessions include defining religious education, identifying the content of a program, understanding the characteristics of an adult learner, and considering learning differences, program structures and models.
- Goals for Participants
- To develop a working definition of adult religious education;
To learn about different adult methods of learning;
To develop content and topics to be included in an adult religious education program;
To experience different styles of learning and different teaching approaches;
To expand the concept of adult religious education beyond traditional definitions of learning and education;
To design an adult religious education program for their congregation.
- Age Range
- Adult
- Size of Group
- 8 to 16 people, ideally
- Space Requirements
- The space should be large enough for participants to form a circle, and also break into smaller groups when necessary.
- Number and Length of Sessions
- 6 sessions
Length: 2-3 hours depending on the overall design of the program - Leader Training
- Not required. Group facilitation skills and background in education would contribute to the program’s success.
- Leader Preparation
- Approximately 1-1/2 hours
- Strengths
- The presentation of the six sessions is well organized and easy-to-follow.
Contains an appendix of further resources.
Includes templates of adult RE surveys, registration forms, and so on, for use by the congregations.
Could be a helpful tool for congregations to devise a structured and intentional adult RE program. - Limitations
- Resources and examples may be somewhat dated.
- Adaptability
- This program provides material that is very adaptable to the needs of different congregations. The six sessions can be used sequentially over a period of weeks, or may be used during a weekend retreat, or in another schedule of the congregation’s choosing.
- Unitarian Universalist Values
- Written in a Unitarian Universalist context, this resource encourages participants to engage their own values and questions into a process of group discernment in order to devise programs of religious growth and learning for the congregation.
Reviewed on June 30, 1996
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