Watch Part 1: Creating a Transformational Sunday School | An Interview with Dan Duckworth

Dan Duckworth is the founder and host of LeaderQuest, an elite leadership program that transforms managers and executives into dynamic changemakers. He speaks, teaches, and writes on leadership and leadership development, and provides one-on-one coaching to leaders aiming to drive transformational change. Dan has served as a board member for Leading Saints since 2019. To learn more, visit idylli.co or find Dan on LinkedIn.

Links

Part 1: Creating a Transformational Sunday School | An Interview with Dan Duckworth
The True Purpose of Sunday School
Why Testimony is Not the Only Goal for Latter-day Youth—Part 1 | A Presentation by Dan Duckworth
Sunday School Session Template
From Aspirational Principles to Practical Principles
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Read the transcript of this podcast
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Highlights

This is the second of a two-part podcast. The conversation continues, focusing on the transformative role of mentorship in youth leadership and the dynamics of effective Sunday school teaching. Dan shares insights on the nature of transformation in leadership. He stresses that effective teaching is not merely about mastering tactics but involves a fundamental shift in belief systems. This transformation requires educators to engage in a cycle of experimentation and reflection, challenging their preconceived notions of what it means to teach and learn. Dan illustrates this with examples from his own experiences, emphasizing the need for teachers to create an environment where students can co-create their learning experiences rather than passively consume information.

The episode delves into the concept of culture within church settings, with Dan advocating for a proactive approach to challenging and reshaping cultural norms. He encourages leaders to embrace discomfort and uncertainty as they experiment with new teaching methods, using the metaphor of pushing against the walls of culture to gather valuable insights. The discussion also touches on the importance of fostering authentic community within Sunday school classes, where trust and openness can lead to deeper engagement and meaningful dialogue.

Dan outlines practical principles for effective teaching, including the necessity of a single driving question to guide discussions and the importance of creating a safe space for students to share their thoughts and experiences. He shares a structured approach to lesson planning that prioritizes engagement and interaction, allowing for a more dynamic and impactful learning environment. Throughout the episode, Dan emphasizes the value of personal experiences and the need for teachers to be vulnerable and authentic in their interactions, ultimately aiming to facilitate a transformative experience for both educators and students alike.

02:09 – Discussion on Culture and Sunday School
03:39 – The Importance of Transformation in Leadership
04:55 – The Cycle of Experimentation and Reflection
05:43 – Challenging Belief Systems in Teaching
06:25 – The Nature of Culture and Disruption
07:28 – Building Confidence in Change
08:13 – The Role of Disruption in Teaching
09:17 – Avoiding the “Ex-Girlfriend Syndrome” in Change
10:20 – Learning from Failed Experiments
11:25 – The Role of Discernment in Leadership
12:29 – God’s Omniscience and Leadership
13:03 – Teaching as Experience Design
14:07 – The Journey of Becoming a Transformational Teacher
15:20 – The Challenge of Teaching Transformational Principles
16:25 – The Importance of Actionable Principles
17:41 – Empowering Co-Creation in the Classroom
19:04 – The Pareto Principle in Teaching
20:22 – Structuring Class Time for Engagement
21:58 – Creating Positive Tensions in Lessons
23:00 – Building Authentic Community in Class
24:36 – The Role of Icebreakers in Fostering Connection
25:52 – The Importance of a Central Theme in Teaching
27:41 – Framing Questions to Drive Discussion
29:34 – The Balance of Preparation and Flexibility
31:01 – Engaging with Personal Experiences in Teaching
32:56 – The Risk of Addressing Tension in Lessons

The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes.

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