Here’s an example of how to use circle response in Bible teachers training to help them assess their teaching. The session encourages them to look beyond their own assessment, and even beyond how students feel about their teaching, to God’s perspective.
About the Circle Response Method
Circle response is a method you can use to get everyone participating in a minimally threatening way. How personal the type of response you request could depend on how well your teachers know each other. Each person may only respond with one word, phrase, or sentence, depending on what you set as the criteria. The statements or questions used should generate more than one kind of response.
- Prior to the session, arrange seating in a circle.
- Start with the person who tends to be more outgoing and go around the circle having each group member give his/her response to your statement or question. Do not allow comments until you get around the circle.
- Summarize their responses and follow up with discussion and/or added input.
Training Session to Help Teachers Assess Their Teaching
First go around the circle for responses to the following statements. Move from one statement to the next without providing commentary or allowing comments.
- In one word, express how you feel about your teaching.
- In one word, describe how you think your students feel about your teaching.
Next make observations about their responses. For instance, you may be able to note how some teachers used similar words to describe their teaching from both points of view while others used very different words for each. After making your observations, ask the following:
What criteria did you use to determine your responses to each statement? (Allow for some responses.)
Now reflect on how you think God feels about your teaching. (Give them a few moments of silence to reflect.)
What criteria would God use to assess your teaching? (Allow for some responses.)
Since His Word provides the standard, let’s reflect on some Scripture verses that should guide us in the way we teach. (Start by asking for some Scripture verses that have been meaningful to them. You can add into the discussion with verses listed in the post, Bible Verses for Bible Teachers.)