A Brilliant Question Not Essential There is a difference between essential questions and brilliant questions. While essential questions touch upon the most important issues of life, they are rarely brilliant. Essential questions touch our hearts and souls. Most important thought during our lives will center on such essential questions. What does it mean to be a good friend? In contrast with essential questions, brilliant questions are important for their power to unlock mysteries and open doors. What will it take to win her heart? Brilliant questions may also be essential, but they almost always deal with strategy and change of some sort. A Vivid Example In studying important figures from history we might ask the essential question, "What kind of person was Joan of Arc or Matthew Flinders?" But all this gathering may not bring us to the heart of the matter. Here is where the brilliant question comes into play. Where did Joan go wrong? The brilliant question helps us to cast new light on a subject or challenge.
The Digital Natives We Teach Are Creating A Number Of New Challenges. – EDTECH 4 BEGINNERS Digital natives are individuals who were born during or after the surge of digital technologies (the internet, mobile devices etc.). Because the majority have been surrounded by tech from an early age, they are used to it and are usually very good at it. In addition, because technology changes so quickly, they have adapted to it and are not scared of new innovation; in fact most get very excited about it. What challenges arise from this? The majority of educators are NOT digital natives and quite often technology can cause anxiety and fear because of its rapid development and increasing encroachment on our lives. What strategies can we use to support digital natives? Thoroughly explore new technology and get to grips with how to use it before a lesson or unit.Learn from the digital natives! How do you support and engage digital natives? Like this: Like Loading...
5 Ways to Help Your Students Become Better Questioners The humble question is an indispensable tool: the spade that helps us dig for truth, or the flashlight that illuminates surrounding darkness. Questioning helps us learn, explore the unknown, and adapt to change. That makes it a most precious “app” today, in a world where everything is changing and so much is unknown. To change that is easier said than done. How to Encourage Questioning 1. Asking a question can be a scary step into the void. 2. This is a tough one. 3. Part of the appeal of “questions-only” exercises is that there’s an element of play involved, as in: Can you turn that answer/statement into a question? 4. Obviously, we must praise and celebrate the questions that are asked -- and not only the on-target, penetrating ones, but also the more expansive, sometimes-offbeat ones (I found that seemingly “crazy questions” sometimes result in the biggest breakthroughs). 5. So ask yourself this beautiful question: How might I encourage more questioning in my classroom?
Bringing Inquiry-Based Learning Into Your Class In the shallow end of the Types of Student Inquiry pool, Structured Inquiry gives the teacher control of the essential question, the starting point—for example, “What defines a culture?” or “What is the importance of the scientific method?” These questions are not answered in a single lesson and do not have a single answer, and, in fact, our understanding of an essential question may change over time as we research it. In Structured Inquiry, the teacher also controls specific learning activities, the resources students will use to create understanding, and the summative assessment learners will complete to demonstrate their understanding. In Controlled Inquiry, the teacher provides several essential questions. How Are the Types of Student Inquiry Helpful? Inquiry is most successful when strongly scaffolded. This structure allows us to successfully address the curriculum and the “must know” content and skills of each discipline, grade level, and course. Second, think big and start small.
FILLING THE TOOL BOX The above ads are generated by Google and FNO does not endorse the products displayed in any manner. From Now On The Educational Technology Journal Classroom Strategies to Engender Student Questioning © 1986 by Jamie McKenzie, Ed.D. and Hilarie Bryce Davis, Ed.D. all rights reserved. Most of the strategies described below have been developed and tested by teachers in Princeton, Madison and elsewhere. As one of the primary goals of education is to develop autonomous but interdependent thinkers, students deserve frequent opportunities to shape and direct classroom inquiry. 1) Beginning A New Unit (K-12) If a class is about to spend several days or weeks studying a particular topic or concept, traditional practice and unit design gives the teacher primary responsibility for identifying the key questions and the key answers. Try starting a new unit by asking your class to think of questions that could be asked about the topic; "What questions should we ask about the Civil War? 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Useful Tips on Writing Essential Questions written by: Keren Perles • edited by: Wendy Finn • updated: 9/11/2012 Essential questions can make the lesson planning process more effective, but many teachers struggle to write quality essential questions for their lessons. Read on for a step-by-step guide to writing essential questions. 1. Choose the Main ConceptThe first step to writing essential questions is to write down the main concept that you are trying to teach your students. Writing Lessons and Mini Lessons The mini lesson is an often overlooked tool that teachers can use to teach basic writing skills.
Usages pédagogiques des TIC : de la consommation à la cocréation participative Margarida ROMERO et Thérèse LAFERRIÈRE du Centre de recherche et d'intervention sur la réussite scolaire (CRIRES) de l'Université Laval analysent les limites des approches techno-centrées. L’intégration des technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC) en éducation a engendré des espoirs infondés et donné lieu à certaines innovations technologiques sans fondement pédagogique. Si certains usages pédagogiques des TIC permettent un apprentissage amélioré par la technologie (Laferrière et al, 2014), d’autres placent la personne apprenante dans une situation de consommation passive ou guère interactive. Dans cet article, nous analysons les limites des approches techno-centrées dans le processus d’intégration des TIC et introduisons une démarche réflexive basée sur une approche qui vise l’amélioration des apprentissages. Cinq niveaux d'usage des TIC (Romero, 2015) Introduction Ni les TIC (ni la craie, ni les crayons) ne sont des révolutions éducatives Discussion
4 Phases of Inquiry-Based Learning: A Guide For Teachers 4 Phases Of Inquiry-Based Learning: A Guide For Teachers by Terry Heick According to Indiana University Bloomington, Inquiry-based learning is an “instructional model that centers learning on a solving a particular problem or answering a central question. Learning focuses around a meaningful, ill-structured problem that demands consideration of diverse perspectivesAcademic content-learning occurs as a natural part of the process as students work towards finding solutionsLearners, working collaboratively, assume an active role in the learning processTeachers provide learners with learning supports and rich multiple media sources of information to assist students in successfully finding solutionsLearners share and defend solutions publicly in some manner” The process itself can be broken down into stages, or phases, that help teachers frame instruction. 4 Phases of Inquiry-Based Learning: A Guide For Teachers 1. The first phase of inquiry-based learning is one characterized by interaction.
Inquiry Based Learning - Dos and Don'ts About ETR Community EdTechReview (ETR) is a community of and for everyone involved in education technology to connect and collaborate both online and offline to discover, learn, utilize and share about the best ways technology can improve learning, teaching, and leading in the 21st century. EdTechReview spreads awareness on education technology and its role in 21st century education through best research and practices of using technology in education, and by facilitating events, training, professional development, and consultation in its adoption and implementation.
4 Ways to Think Outside the Rectangle with National Geographic Geo-Inquiry Exploration, adventure, curiosity. Who wouldn’t want to go on expedition with National Geographic? Now you can, by launching a Geo-Inquiry project in your own class. Let’s run through the gear you’ll want to pack for this learning adventure. See the world like an Explorer The first essential item your students need is a geographic perspective. A common student misperception is that geography is simply memorizing places on maps and facts about those places. For example, when my students learned less than 1% of batteries in our state were being properly recycled, they launched an inquiry into where spent batteries go. Encourage your students to evaluate issues in your community from a geographic perspective. from National Geographic Geo-Inquiry Educator Guide Think like an Explorer Consider this: National Geographic Explorers engage in PBL around the world. This document outlines three key attitudes of an explorer: curiosity, responsibility, and empowerment. The final step: Act.
Fostering Student Questions: Strategies for Inquiry-Based Learning 1. The Question Formulation Technique The Question Formulation Technique offers a starting place to teach students how to construct questions that meet their needs. The QFT is a process for coaching students on the value and pitfalls of closed-ended and open-ended questions, including where and how to use them. Use the QFT as a foundation for the other protocols shared, which can lead to rich learning experiences. 2. One challenge to generating substantive questions and ideas is getting every student's voice heard. Post a topic as a statement starter or a question on chart paper for small groups. Traditionally, the teacher collects the results at the end to use as data for later activities based on the students' contributions. 3. One challenge with reading articles or other pieces of writing is getting students to read for meaning and make connections beyond summary. Divide students into groups of 2-4. 4. It's amazing what students come up with when the teacher is silent. No Time to Wait