I learned something today about teaching and learning. I was working with Susan Black to produce a few podcasts. In our first conversation, Susan talked about how she had to observe in a classroom earlier in the day. She described the setting and the outcome. The new teacher had music playing, a PowerPoint going, various colors of dry erase markers in place to emphasize certain categories of the lesson as he wrote on the board, and a memorized delivery of the content. And with all of these props and tools to aid the teaching and learning process, according to Susan, the lesson fell flat.

I asked her what could be done to assist teachers with their teaching and learning efforts. She said that the Lord mentioned that we learn line upon line, precept upon precept. She said that she teaches precepts and then has stories (the line up on line idea) to support those precepts. (Any student of Susan’s can attest to the fact that Susan can tell great stories.)

From President Thomas S. Monson’s devotional address on Tuesday I learned a little tidbit that I think also applies to teaching and learning. The “precept” he wanted to teach was about truth not being held hostage to expediency. He first told a story about a son who forgot to gas up the family car on Saturday night after his date, so in the morning there wasn’t enough gas to get to church. The father simply walked the long way to an early church meeting and didn’t go gas up the car on Sunday because he didn’t want to violate the Sabbath.

This concept/precept mentioned by President Monson is going to be part of the criteria I will use in designing curriculum. I will do my best to not hold truth hostage to expediency. And I will also use the idea expressed by Susan about teaching and learning as described through “line upon line, precept upon precept.”

For behold, this saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have (2 Nephi 28:29).