Avoiding the Bulldozer (or Raking) Approach The Questioning Process for Success Gerry Solomon NC DPI

Objectives Be able to articulate the relevance of questioning to essential learning skills Be able to collaborate with teachers in designing questions Be able to help students create their own questions

Learning and Innovation Skills Creativity and Innovation Skills Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills Communication and Collaboration Skills Information, Media and Technology Skills Information Literacy Media Literacy ICT Literacy

Life and Career Skills Flexibility & Adaptability Initiative & Self-Direction Social & Cross-Cultural Skills Productivity & Accountability Leadership & Responsibility

Framework for 21st Century Learning

State Board of Education “The guiding mission of the North Carolina State Board of Education is that every public school student will graduate from high school, globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and prepared for life in the 21st century.”

Why do students get frustrated with research?

Where do I start? What am I looking for? Why, Why am I doing this? Is this what I need? What do I do with ALL this information?

Ending Topical Research! “If we keep assigning topics, students will drive their earth moving equipment through the information landfill, pleased by the height and depth of the piles.” McKenzie, Jamie. "Putting an End to Topical Research." From Now On. Vol 16 No 3. February Date Accessed

The Global Challenge “To be ‘competitive’ now, U.S. students must develop sophisticated critical thinking and analytical skills to manage the conceptual nature of the work they will do. They will need to be able to recognize patterns, create narrative, and imagine solutions to problems we have yet to discover. They will have to see the big picture and ask the big questions.” House, Gerry. "Closing the 'Reality Gap'." American School Board Journal Special Report, April <

Indicator 1.1.3: Develop and refine a range of questions to frame the search for new understanding. At Grade 5: Formulate questions about the topic with guidance. Predict answers to inquiry questions … Assess questions to determine which can be answered by simple facts… and which would lead to an interesting inquiry. Standards for the 21st Century Learner in Action, Draft 2, AASl, andardsinaction/Draft2/All_sections_Draft2.doc

The Essential Question –Big idea –Constructed from information gathered –How, Why, What If?

FAT Questions Look for connections between information Trigger forming an opinion about the information found Use comparisons and looking for patterns Require THOUGHTFUL answers IN 2 EDU: Information Literacy

FAT vs. Skinny Genetic manipulation Immigration A Book Character Erosion

Variations… Why Does It Matter that… Why Is It Important that… Debra C. Rollins, Assistant Librarian James C. Bolton Library, Alexandria VA

Measure the Questions Inch – Y or N Foot – One or Two words Yard – Read and put in your own words Mile – Think deeply and synthesize Baltimore Co Public Schools/Office of Library Information Services

Supporting Questions Help answer the Essential Question Fact based Who, What, Where, When

How could advances in the Human Genome project affect us in the years to come? What is the Genome Project? What information has been gathered? What are scientists doing with the information? ?

Erosion What is erosion?

Helping Students Ask Meaningful Questions “Teachers modeling their own questions helps students to get into the ‘I wonder’ mode.” Kuhlthau, Carol, L. K. Maniotes, & A. K. Caspari (2007). Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st Century. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Helping Students Ask Meaningful Questions Brainstorming Deep Thinking – how/why Prompts – McKenzie Questioning ToolkitMcKenzie Questioning Toolkit Linkages – use of evidence Lamb, Annette and Larry Johnson. Turning Fiascos into Fiestas: Building Successful Inquiry Experiences.

Interactive Student Guide to Using the Information Process Model Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Library Information Services

Kaleidoscope The Question Conjure-Upper

Biography Maker

Thought Starters Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)

The Thesis Generator Joyce Valenza Springfield Township (PA) Virtual HS Library

Create Categories Group their questions into categories Align the categories to your supporting questions Model how you categorized Circle keywords D.J. Midgett

Career What do you do in your job? What did you have to learn? What is your work setting? What are the good/hard things? How do you use your pay? Careers Information

Thanks to D.J. Midgett

Fourth Grade: Communication Invention D.J. Midgett

Gina Webster, Media Coordinator Walkertown Middle School, Winston- Salem/Forsyth Schools

No More Bulldozing (or Raking)!

Gerry Solomon, NCDPI In compliance with federal law, including the provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, N C Public Schools administers all state- operated educational programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination because of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, color, age, military service, disability, or gender, except where exemption is appropriate and allowed by law.