study skills
In my teaching experience with college students in Chongquing, China, I was challenged with providing the students with a new concept of studying. In the Eastern Asian culture, most studying is done by rote or verbatim memorization. Therefore, grasping the basic principle of an idea is sometimes lost. I developed study skills that showed how to learn the concept first and then the concept and be applied using any or different words. A difficult task; but for those who finally understood, very liberating and self-sustaining. There is an art to notetaking, skimming, and reading comprehension, which when mastered, makes study very easy and long lasting. Training the eye to pickup any reference to words like "several steps, rules, how to, list of". When those words or some similar appear, the brain should immediately engaged that what is to follow is worthy to remember, or should be at least written down. Become familiar with how to take notes, when to take notes, and how to prepare an outline of any course taken and whenever any instructor is speaking. When exam time rolls around, go over notes (3X5 index cards or outline).
I even developed a class participation skit to role play. Roleplaying is great exercise in determining if a student has mastered the concept of any instruction.
religion
During my course of study at Wayland Baptist University, I was required to take courses in Old and New Testament,including how the Bible became canonized, writing theme papers on various contributors of scriptural concepts and their applications. In further study, I attended the Azusa School of Ministry with a curriculum in Practical Ministry that included courses on prayer, church history, biblical word study, missionary preparation, church polity. As a result of this study, I have enjoyed the opportunity to teach courses in church training school, school of ministry practical curriculums, develop courses for women in a state prison facility, as well as courses for youth and young adults.