The Learning Cycle: Insights for Faithful Teaching from Neuroscience and the social Sciences Muriel I Elmer and Duane H. Elmer Deborah Anderson

Abstract

Muriel and Duane Elmer offer a supportive gift to Christ-centered teachers who lie awake
wondering if anything said in class took root. Putting their vast experience as professors,
missionaries, and trainers to paper in The Learning Cycle: Insights for Faithful Teaching from
Neuroscience and the Social Sciences, they unfold an educationally tested, compelling
framework for educators and ministry leaders who seek to foster deep, transformative
learning. Drawing on neuroscience, learning theory, and Christian theology, the authors
propose a five-stage model that progresses from information retention to habit formation
and ultimately transformation. The five stages of the learning cycle are (1) Recall—
remembering content and information, (2) Recall with Appreciation—valuing the
information, (3) Recall with Speculation—pondering how to use the information, (4)
Recall with Practice—beginning to change behavior, and (5) Recall with Habit—
consistently applying the learning (p. 7). Each chapter builds on this cycle, integrating
theory with practical strategies for educators.