Concrete Experience

In life we encounter many concrete experiences but in a learning environment the learning faciliatator not only provides a theory and a story, but also a concrete experience that addresses the principles involved in the learning experience. This is the true challenge for educators who prepare lesson plans.

Kolb's Learning Cycle

Kolb’s model is comprised of four phases that he locates in a circle. This model has come to be known in the literature as the Kolb Cycle.

In the first phase, the educator involves the learners in a concrete experience. The experience could be a role play, a live or video demonstration, a case study, or a testimonial. Generally, it will not be a lecture. The learners are then asked to review the experience from many perspectives. They ask themselves questions. What happened? What did you observe? This second phase is referred to as reflective observation. During the third phase of abstract conceptualization, the learners develop theories and look at patterns. Further questions are asked. How do you account for what you observed? What does it mean for you? How is it significant? What conclusions can you draw? What general principles can you derive? The fourth and final phase of this experiential model is active experimentation. The learners suggest ways that they can apply the principles they have learned. How can we apply this learning? In what ways can we use it the next time? What would we do differently?

Education and Learning

A priority is to study the events, the conditions, and the options. Study is an active process. It is a communty process. It is a change process. It is also a long term investment. For issues of this importance and complexity it is not enough to have a series of seminars or lectures. It requires learner involvement, learner engagement, learner reflection, and ultimately learner action resulting in changing behavior.

Ending Slavery Solution #1

Everything begins with one. I will resolve to end slavery. I will resolve to heal the effects of slavery. The first thing for me to acknowledge is that it is a problem and it requires a solution. Another acknowledgement is that I can address it regardless of my own or ancestral involvement. I will raise my own awareness level and through interactions will raise others awareness level too.

Creative Solutions

Even as we learn to understand what others have done to address the inequities of slavery, we should contantly bear in mind innovative solutions. As we deconstruct the past we should remember to reconstruct the future. As we sift out the essential components that bleed still from old wounds we need to find cures and protocols.

Lobbying Acts of Congress

Today in politics voting is not enough. It takes a concerted effort to have elected leaders listen and follow through. It also takes considerable investment in time and money. Since a church cannot easily reconcile some of the acts of bribery, payoffs, and gifting that corporations regularly engage in, the investment is in moral leadership.

Resolutions for the church, the conference or the synod

Since the forum for this discussion is in the church setting it is appropriate that we seek platforms within the church to address these issues. At conferences we have a broader audience to share ideas and to formiulate action plans that have wider acceptance. At the synod we have the ultimate platform of the church through its resolutions and actions of its leadership.

Legal action to redress inequity

Most will agree that the US is a very litigious society. Stories abound like the successful 1994 Liebeck v. MacDonalds suit over third degree burns from a spilled cup of coffee.
Some make the claim that America is governed by laws not people. Others will claim that the victories that count are the legal victories. There have been threats of legal action that may have state legislatures or other bodies address reparations but the only result that may count may be a legal victory in court.

Reparations

Reparations for slavery is a common call that is commonly ignored. There are a number of arguments for and against reparations. It is easy to imagine a number of arguments for reparations considering the absolutely negative view we hold on slavery as a universally condemned institution. Some of the arguments against reparations include:
The civil rights act and affirmative action addresses reparations.
Those who were guilty of slavery have all passed on.
Slavery was a legal institution and one cannot be conpensated for a legally supported injustice.