Formulating Effective Inquiry

Published on Jul 18, 2016

There is a great difference between asking effective questions - questions that promote learning, and asking ineffective questions - questions that do not. The intended purpose is to ask questions that encourage the learner's active participation in thinking through the problem and finding a solution, without having to rely on the instructor to provide answers. This means we should activate what the learner knows in active, critical thinking and problem-solving. We should promote reflection on the issues, the role of society and self in addressing those issues, and the questions inevitably raised by any issue that is not well-settled. This Guide offers a "formula" for crafting effective questions that do just that.

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Effective Inquiry

Teaching through 
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EFFECTIVE Questions

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Encourage Active Engagement

in the learning process
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Facilitate Deep Thinking

Facilitate New Connections

Among Learners and Ideas
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Process of Thinking

Emphasize the 

Encourage self-assessment

and self-regulated learning

Encourage independent thinking
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Effective Questions avoid a negative impact on learner confidence.

Boost learner confidence

Effective Questions
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WHAT to ask?

How do you Know
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HOW to ask?

How do you Know
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Effective Questions

A Formula for Crafting...

1) Determine the Purpose

for a more complex discussion?

Do you want to lay foundation

deeper exploration?

Do you want to encourage
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Target Cognitive Dimension

2) Determine the

Procedural knowledge?

Do you want to facilitate
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Conceptual knowledge?

Do you want to facilitate
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Metacognitive engagement?

Do you want to facilitate
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3) Select the Question Type

Convergent Questions

Ask for Yes/No Response, Select Options
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Divergent Questions

Call for Narrative, Open-ended Responses

Complex Questions

Call for analysis of multiple factors and relations among them
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Conditional Questions

Call for predictions based on certain facts
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Untitled Slide

Director, Faculty Instructional Development

Karen Spear Ellinwood, PhD, JD, EdS
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