ipg workshop strengthening teaching teams

Strengthening Strengthening Teaching TeamsTeaching Teams

O ye friends of God! Today is the day of union and this O ye friends of God! Today is the day of union and this age is the age of harmony in the world of existence. age is the age of harmony in the world of existence. "Verily, God loveth those who are working in His path "Verily, God loveth those who are working in His path in groups, for they are a solid foundation.“in groups, for they are a solid foundation.“

(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 401)(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 401)

MobilizationMobilization

When we turn to the experience of those clusters When we turn to the experience of those clusters where intensive programs of growth have been where intensive programs of growth have been launched, we see that an important element of launched, we see that an important element of that framework has been the mobilization of that framework has been the mobilization of teaching teams during the expansion phase.teaching teams during the expansion phase.

(International Teaching Centre, Reflections on Growth #13, August 2006)(International Teaching Centre, Reflections on Growth #13, August 2006)

Direct TeachingDirect Teaching

In some clusters teaching teams were initially viewed In some clusters teaching teams were initially viewed as synonymous with “street teaching” teams, often as synonymous with “street teaching” teams, often because of a lack of clarity regarding the term “direct because of a lack of clarity regarding the term “direct teaching.” Shoghi Effendi explained that direct teaching.” Shoghi Effendi explained that direct teaching consists of “an open and bold assertion of teaching consists of “an open and bold assertion of the fundamental verities of the Cause.” This can be the fundamental verities of the Cause.” This can be done individually or in groups and does not depend done individually or in groups and does not depend on the setting. Street teaching may be one method on the setting. Street teaching may be one method but there are many other approaches.but there are many other approaches.


A Few FriendsA Few Friends

The concept of teaching teams that has evolved over The concept of teaching teams that has evolved over the past few years can more accurately be the past few years can more accurately be understood as a support group, a few friends who understood as a support group, a few friends who come together during an intensive program of come together during an intensive program of growth for planning, consultation, inspiration, and growth for planning, consultation, inspiration, and systematic action. Their teaching work may go on systematic action. Their teaching work may go on individually, in pairs, or in larger groups, but they individually, in pairs, or in larger groups, but they meet regularly to consult on the progress of their meet regularly to consult on the progress of their personal and collective plans. personal and collective plans.


Encouragement & StrengthEncouragement & Strength

Members of teaching teams receive encouragement and gain strength from Members of teaching teams receive encouragement and gain strength from one another. They pray together, exchange experiences, assess their one another. They pray together, exchange experiences, assess their learning, practice the skills acquired in the institute courses, and thereby learning, practice the skills acquired in the institute courses, and thereby attract confirmations. Teaching teams are a direct response to the attract confirmations. Teaching teams are a direct response to the concern expressed in the following quotation from the Universal House of concern expressed in the following quotation from the Universal House of Justice: Justice:

““While the friends are generally conscious of the vital importance of teaching, While the friends are generally conscious of the vital importance of teaching, yet, because of their frailties, many for the most part lack confidence, and yet, because of their frailties, many for the most part lack confidence, and feel they do not know what course of action to follow, or how to bring feel they do not know what course of action to follow, or how to bring their efforts to a conclusion.” their efforts to a conclusion.”


Teams Endure 2-3 IPG CyclesTeams Endure 2-3 IPG Cycles

The learning demonstrates that when teams stay together for The learning demonstrates that when teams stay together for two or three cycles of a growth program, they become more two or three cycles of a growth program, they become more systematic and gradually reap greater results. They maintain systematic and gradually reap greater results. They maintain records of the contacts made, their visits, their teaching records of the contacts made, their visits, their teaching efforts, the results, and the follow-up. The needs and efforts, the results, and the follow-up. The needs and interests of every seeker or guest are considered in order to interests of every seeker or guest are considered in order to determine what the best approach is for that individual and determine what the best approach is for that individual and who is the most suitable person to carry it out.who is the most suitable person to carry it out.


Finding OpportunitiesFinding Opportunities

Above all, the focus is not just on inviting Above all, the focus is not just on inviting people to activities but in learning how to people to activities but in learning how to elevate a conversation toward spiritual elevate a conversation toward spiritual themes and in finding opportunities, daily, themes and in finding opportunities, daily, to share the Revelation of God for this day.to share the Revelation of God for this day.


A Desire to Share the MessageA Desire to Share the Message

It is not necessary to complete the sequence of courses It is not necessary to complete the sequence of courses before joining a team. These small teaching groups before joining a team. These small teaching groups allow people to work closely with those who share allow people to work closely with those who share common interests, culture, language, or the like. The common interests, culture, language, or the like. The main prerequisite is a desire to share the Message of main prerequisite is a desire to share the Message of Bahá’u’lláh with others.Bahá’u’lláh with others.


Effectiveness & ScopeEffectiveness & Scope

Working as a team increases considerably the effectiveness of Working as a team increases considerably the effectiveness of our teaching efforts, and widens their scope. It also results in our teaching efforts, and widens their scope. It also results in bringing together seekers from various backgrounds, who bringing together seekers from various backgrounds, who enjoy studying together Ruhi Institute books and benefiting enjoy studying together Ruhi Institute books and benefiting from one another’s insights.from one another’s insights.


Formation & LearningFormation & LearningSome teams are formed during a reflection meeting for the Some teams are formed during a reflection meeting for the

purpose of the expansion phase. Others have grown out of purpose of the expansion phase. Others have grown out of study circles when friends formed teams to do the practice study circles when friends formed teams to do the practice component of Book 6 and then continued together during the component of Book 6 and then continued together during the intensive program of growth. In either case, experience has intensive program of growth. In either case, experience has shown that it is beneficial for the team to stay together to shown that it is beneficial for the team to stay together to coordinate their efforts during the consolidation phase. In coordinate their efforts during the consolidation phase. In many instances the learning has been enhanced when a many instances the learning has been enhanced when a teaching team has worked together for a sustained period of teaching team has worked together for a sustained period of time, building up contacts and experiences that make them time, building up contacts and experiences that make them increasingly effective.increasingly effective.


Seekers & TeachersSeekers & Teachers

Often it happens that a seeker needs to learn about the Faith Often it happens that a seeker needs to learn about the Faith through a variety of people and sources in order to become a through a variety of people and sources in order to become a confirmed believer. One teacher alone may not be able to confirmed believer. One teacher alone may not be able to answer all questions or meet all the needs of the seeker. Also, answer all questions or meet all the needs of the seeker. Also, those inexperienced in teaching the Faith or who lack those inexperienced in teaching the Faith or who lack confidence can benefit from teaching side by side with a confidence can benefit from teaching side by side with a veteran teacher. veteran teacher.


Reflection & LearningReflection & Learning

When teaching teams take the time to reflect on their When teaching teams take the time to reflect on their experience and identify the lessons learned, their experience and identify the lessons learned, their efforts meet with greater success. There are a efforts meet with greater success. There are a growing number of inspiring stories that tell of how growing number of inspiring stories that tell of how teaching teams received divine assistance after teaching teams received divine assistance after prayer and united action.prayer and united action.


Learning from Teaching TeamsLearning from Teaching Teams Meet regularly for action, reflection, consultationMeet regularly for action, reflection, consultation Pace your team: advancing the process of entry Pace your team: advancing the process of entry

by troops is a marathon, not a sprint.by troops is a marathon, not a sprint. Set small, measurable goals.Set small, measurable goals. Be prepared to face cycles of crisis and victory.Be prepared to face cycles of crisis and victory. 3-5 team members is optimal.3-5 team members is optimal. Be sure a tutor is on each team.Be sure a tutor is on each team. Desire to become a more effective teacher.Desire to become a more effective teacher. Have a focus: direct teaching, core activity, etc.Have a focus: direct teaching, core activity, etc. Plan to be a team for at least 2-3 cycles.Plan to be a team for at least 2-3 cycles. Share your results at Feast and at Cluster Share your results at Feast and at Cluster

Reflection Meetings.Reflection Meetings.

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

How can we raise the level of our discourse about the community How can we raise the level of our discourse about the community building activities in which we are engaged? (see 20 Oct 2008)building activities in which we are engaged? (see 20 Oct 2008)

In what ways do our teaching efforts continue throughout the In what ways do our teaching efforts continue throughout the whole cycle?whole cycle?

How do we assist one another to undertake systematic teaching How do we assist one another to undertake systematic teaching and to sustain teaching activities?and to sustain teaching activities?

Discussion Questions cont…Discussion Questions cont…

How do we develop team coherence by focusing on How do we develop team coherence by focusing on different activities?different activities?

What creative ideas do we have to collaborate with the What creative ideas do we have to collaborate with the wider community to plan devotional meetings?wider community to plan devotional meetings?

How do we use arts in teaching?How do we use arts in teaching?

What will be the focus of our teaching team?What will be the focus of our teaching team?

ipg workshop strengthening teaching teams

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