For over 100 years, people in the field of education have studied John Milton Gregory's Seven Laws of Teaching, perhaps one of the most enduring descriptions of the art of teaching.
They're also known as Gregory's Laws, and while they were originally designed for teachers in the field of education around 1884, they're equally applicable today to trainers and coaches in organizations to improve their performance. We invite you to consider them.
The Gregory Laws that we propose you to know and consider are the following:
| Law 1: The Teacher's Law | Know clearly and familiarly what you want to convey, both forward and backward. Knowledge will give you the power to be enthusiastic and prepared. An old saying goes: those who can do, do; and those who can't do, train. |
| Law 2: The Law of the Apprentice | Gain and maintain people's attention and interest in the teaching content. Don't try to convey if there's no attention. The best trainers know that mutual understanding with the audience is essential for success. Maintaining trainees' interest requires interaction, varied presentation techniques, and information relevant to their needs. |
| Law 3: The Law of Language | Use terms that are meaningful to both you and the participants. Using common language is very important. Good trainers avoid jargon and acronyms that may not be familiar to everyone. Using images and visuals to illustrate each point can enhance understanding. And always keep it simple! |
| Law 4: The Law of Content | Start with elements of the topic that are already well-known to those present and move on to new material in simple, small, and natural steps. Experienced trainers understand the importance of combining new information with what the audience already knows. Help them see how the new content will apply to their life experiences and future challenges. |
| Law 5: The Law of the Teaching Process | To teach is to stimulate. Therefore, stimulate your students' minds to act. Keep their thoughts as far ahead of their expressions as possible, putting them in the position of discoverers and anticipators. An absolutely beneficial training technique is to focus on self-learning and discovery. Then bringing these topics into the lives and homes of each participant will make learning a meaningful activity. |
| Law 6: The Law of the Learning Process | It requires participants to internally review what they have learned, in its various phases and applications, until they can express it in their own words. True learning comes from doing, not just hearing. Use role-playing, interaction, and practical exercises to stimulate future actions with the material presented. People who can do this in training will feel more comfortable doing the same in real life. |
| Law 7: The Law of Review and Enforcement | Review, review, and review, deepening your impression with new insights, connecting everything with additional meaning, finding new applications, correcting misconceptions, and seeking shared truths. Experienced coaches see the value of review at the end of their presentations. |
By applying these seven laws to our work as coaches and trainers, participants will learn better and be able to apply what they've learned. And we will be successful in bringing about change in lives and organizations.
