OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS EDU 280

OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS Questions that have more than one right answer, or ones than can be answered in many ways Divergent Questions

OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS This way of asking questions: stimulates more language use, acknowledges that there can be many solutions to one problem, affirms children’s ideas, encourages creative thinking.

OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS Open-ended questions open up conversations. When you ask an open-ended question, you don’t know what the child’s answer is going to be. Close-ended questions usually limit conversation to a one or two word response and sometimes the end conversation.

“ Never ask a child a question that you already know the answer to.” David Weikart, former president, High/Scope Educational Research Foundation

EXAMPLES: Close-ended question:“What color is this?” Open-ended question:“You used a lot of blue on your painting. What does it remind you of?” Close-ended question:“How many teddy bears are on the block?” Open-ended question:“What are those teddy bears thinking about?” Close-ended question:“What’s your doll’s name?” Open-ended question:“Your baby is so beautiful! Tell me about her.”

OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS In Imagineering (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1980), Michael LeBoeuf proposed asking questions to spark imagination. He gave these examples that can spark creativity when faced with a challenge...  What can be added?  What else can this be used for?  What else is this like?  How else can this be arranged?  What is the opposite of this?  What if nothing is done?

TYPES OF OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS To put thoughts into words: Why do you think the little boy in the story was sad? To observe: What do you see, hear, feel? What did you notice? To make predictions: What do you think will happen if you keep adding blocks to your tower? To think about similarities and differences: How are these two blocks the same? What makes these things go together? To apply knowledge to solve a problem: What could you do to keep the paint from dripping on the floor?

TYPES OF OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS To stretch thinking: What would happen if there were no cars, trucks, buses, planes, or boats? How would we get around? To consider consequences: What would happen if you left your drawing outside and it rained? To evaluate: What made you decide to pick this book to read? How did this make you feel? To assess feelings: How would you feel if that happened to you?

HOW CAN YOU RESPOND EFFECTIVELY? Wait 5-10 seconds for children to think and formulate responses. Allow children to fully answer a question without interruption. Show that you are interested in the children’s answers.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNERS Whenever possible, ask open-ended questions in their home language. If speaking English, begin with yes/no questions or questions that require a one- word response and gradually increase level of complexity as the child’s English skills develop.

OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS TO HELP CHILDREN THINK Extend children’s thinking by: Asking questions that encourage language development (verbal, written, and receptive). Paraphrasing—repeat what the child said. Then add extra information to keep the child thinking. Adding new vocabulary. Use new words like “observe”, texture words (sticky, rough, silky), measurement words (gigantic, tiny, humongous, miniscule), etc.

REMEMBER: If you can answer “yes” or “no” the question is not open-ended. Children are thinking so it takes time for them to respond. Be sure to allow them this time.