Introduction
Various strategies can be employed to enhance learning processes, all of which align with the principles of Bloom’s taxonomy. Jesus’ teachings, especially in the Gospel of John, offer opportunities to develop higher-order thinking skills, such as understanding, analyzing, and applying concepts (King James Bible, 2023). For example, Jesus challenges his listeners to think beyond their immediate circumstances and consider the bigger picture of God’s kingdom. He also encourages critical reflection on issues such as love, kindness, and redemption, which involve promoting active learning through inquiry and experimentation. Active teaching strategies help promote analysis, knowledge, and application, as demonstrated in Jesus’ teachings in the book of John.
Applying Bloom’s Taxonomy to Jesus’ Teachings
Remembering
When scrutinizing Jesus’ teachings, particularly in the Book of John, various aspects of Bloom’s taxonomy cognitive skills at an advanced level, including knowledge, analysis, and application, arise. The teachings of Jesus encompass not only basic information retention but also more complex cognitive processes, such as analysis. The first Higher Order Thinking skill (HOTS) encompasses knowledge, which includes the retention of learned information, including structure and patterns (Armstrong, n.d.).
The Sermon on John 4:10 enhances the idea of him as the “living water” (King James Bible, 2023). This message is conveyed through parables, which encourage learners to engage in critical thinking and consider the interrelation between situations from their past and what is expected to happen. Jesus presents Himself as the living water and encourages believers to trust in Him based on what He has done for humanity. This strategy challenged traditional learning strategies, such as listening and reasoning, by encouraging the listener to focus on critical analysis rather than just face-value information.
Analyzing
Another integral approach used is an analysis that involves disintegrating information into its fundamental elements or segments to reveal the hierarchy of concepts or make the relationship between ideas explicit. For example, in the teaching against murder in John 15:1, Jesus prompts the audience to analyze a situation by encouraging them to analyze the aspect of the vine and branches (King James Bible, 2023). The verse indicates that Jesus is the true vine and God is the gardener who cuts off branches that do not bear fruit. This teaching enables learners to understand the hierarchy in God’s kingdom by breaking down the pyramid levels within the kingdom and understanding the interdependence of each party involved (King James Bible, 2023). This strategy cultivates the cognitive skill of analysis, encouraging believers to develop a strong foundation in Christ.
Applying
Some teachings also emphasize application, which requires learners to use abstractions to solve issues. For instance, the fulfillment of the law in John 15:10-12 encourages people that anyone who ignores the list of commands provided as a Christian doctrine will not demonstrate love (King James Bible, 2023). However, one who applies the commands and teaches others to fulfill the law will be great in the world and shall meet the savior (King James Bible, 2023).
This approach emphasizes application, which involves using the information learned and analyzing its effectiveness in real-life situations (Armstrong, n.d.). Furthermore, Jesus’ teachings often involve affective and interpersonal domains, such as encouraging his followers to love their enemies and pray for those persecuting them. This activity requires a level of emotional maturity and empathy that goes beyond mere intellectual understanding.
Domains of Learning
Jesus’ teachings exemplify the value and importance of higher-order thinking skills and holistic learning, encompassing cognitive knowledge, as well as emotional and relational intelligence. Similar to other religious instructions given by Jesus, his teachings in the Sermon on the Mount emphasize thinking skills such as knowledge, analysis, and application. For example, Jesus encourages his listeners, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their kingdom is in heaven” (Wołowski, 2021). This idea is not easily understandable, meaning that the listener must engage in critical analysis and knowledge to simply the meaning of the tailored Sermon, and this promotes analysis and evaluation. He also encourages critical reflection on issues such as anger, lust, and retaliation in the beatitudes, which also challenge the standard strategy of learning that includes listening.
Conclusion
Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of John exemplifies several key principles of active learning. First, he uses questioning to encourage his disciples to think critically and reflect on their beliefs. For example, he asks the disciples in the book of John, “Have I not loved you?” which helps them reflect on this question and their response to Jesus (King James Bible, 2023).
Another aspect is when Jesus uses real-life situations to help his disciples practically apply their knowledge and skills (Armstrong, n.d). For instance, he encourages believers to love one another as he has loved them (John 15:12), and through that, they shall find restoration (King James Bible, 2023). This aspect motivates the listeners to think creatively and work collaboratively towards fulfilling this word. Additionally, Jesus employs experiential learning by inviting his followers to demonstrate what they have learned through active participation in love towards one another, which serves as an integral aspect of their learning.
References
Amstrong, P. (n.d). Bloom’s taxonomy. [Word Document]. Web.
King James Bible (2023). King James Bible Online. Web.
Wołowski, L. (2021). Mariological Interpretation of the Eight Beatitudes (Matt 5: 3–10). Collectanea Theologica, 90(5), 637-679. Web.