“This method changed the way I think about every aspect of the world around
me.” Elizabeth Betancur 10 th grade.
The problems teachers and other learning professionals face can be tough. And
excellent outcomes are expected.
We know problems can be lessened, and outcomes improved by involving the
students deeply in their own learning and shifting the teacher’s role to be more
tutorial. And the more rigorous the process of involving them the better odds of
getting the outcomes right.
Fortunately, you and your students were born already equipped with the all the
intellectual and emotional tools needed to learn. We all have them. The evidence is
right there. We can think. We can collaborate. We can solve problems. We can
communicate. And we do all of that by questioning. And questioning is an innate
skill. No one teaches children to question; they just know how.
Q&A. That’s how all of humanity’s problems have always been addressed.
Outcomes of course vary. But imagine if the words “What if?” had never been
uttered by our ancestors.
So, how can you ignite your student’s or team’s hardwired cognitive ability?
How can you intentionally unleash reasoning in individuals or teams?
How can you facilitate the “Deeper, personalized learning” advocated by Piaget,
and Stanford University’s School of Education?
By Structured Questioning: a.k.a. the Maieutic method of Socrates and Mortimer
Adler.
Questions are the sounds your mind makes when it thinks.
And they lead to IDEATIONS.
Questions are the matches struck by people to ignite the fire of imagination.
They are the only known tool for Knowledge-mining.
They take the guesswork out of problem solving.
They build trust.
Questions allow us to design how we go about solving problems.
They help generate new ideas, new understandings, and communities.
They build mental models (thought experiments) before making decisions.
They help teams leverage all their diversity of skills and experience.
Questions empower the questioner.
They create an immersive and enjoyable experience for everyone.
They help us look back using memory and forward using imagination.
Mostly, questions help our reach exceed our grasp.
But questioning needs structure; whether intrapersonal or interpersonal.
Unlike Stanford and other researchers, I am not advocating a top-down approach to
this. I am advocating for teachers and students to make room for this best practice
into their classes. If you’re teaching Algebra, it makes sense for the students to first
figure out for themselves why learning Algebra or anything matters. It’s mass
customization.
Learn the art of skillful, guided questioning. Guide students as they deploy
structured questioning in search of answers, opinions, solutions, suggestions, plans,
or justified beliefs. On anything. Free.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE (LINK TO TAP CERTIFICATION) TIM™
Certification Workbook for Teachers and Parents. And begin helping students – or
anyone – mine knowledge. Data is not knowledge. Crude oil is not jet fuel. They
both need refining.
Help students think things through thoroughly – guaranteed.
P.S Once you have looked at the workbook and reviewed the video demonstration,
you might start thinking this should be a video game. We did. Stay tuned.
Alex
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Hybrid Skills.
Facebook/Blue Ocean Schools
