Designing and Using Probing Questions
Linking Exploratory Activities with Concepts
Module Two

Ron Hochmuth, Instructor
hochmuth@alexandriacentral.org
fax: (315)482-9973

November's assignment:

Hello class! I believe our cohort consist of A.J.Longware, Mark Manske, Billie Pickert, Barb Morgan, Elaine Rice and Sally Brothers. Welcome to each and all. I shared our class roster in the liklihood that you may want to interact with each other regarding our class.(commiserate might be a better word than interact).

Last month our task was simply to "tick" off the number of questions that you typically ask during a class.

How did that exercise go?(E)
How did you find the process of working through the internet class module 1?(E)
Could you describe for me the methods you used to indentify the number of questions you asked?(K)
What do you think was the main point of my asking you to do this exercise?(C)
Why was this a significant exercise?(AP)
What evidence can you present that the exercise was educationally beneficial?(AN)
What do you predict will happen now that you have been through this particular exercise?(S)

Please e-mail me responses to those above questions.

The curious amongst you might be asking the question "what are those (parenthesis) with letters in them all about?(AP)" It's today's lesson! Not only have I asked you questions as a follow-up to last months assignment I have posed the questions in the proverbial 'two birds with one stone' style. First they are legitament questions for you to answer and you should do such as part of this month's assignment. Secondly, I have crafted the questions at a variety of levels according to Bloom's Taxonomy.... which follows:

(K) knowledge - indentification and recall of information.
(C) comprehension - organization and selection of facts and ideas
(AP) application - use of facts, relationship to,
(AN) analysis - separation of whole into parts,
(S) synthesis - combining ideas to form new idea
(E) evaluation - development of new opinions, judgments or decisions

The order listed is significant because the list ranges from the simple to the complex. It should be obvious that we should try to ask questions that require higher order thinking skills rather than the simple recall or knowlege level allbeit they have their place as well.

This month's assignment, in addition to answering the questions I have posed in paragraph two, is for you to refresh your memories on Bloom's taxonomy by searching out that 'term' on the internet and re-familarizing yourself with the concept. Then you are to take one of your lessons during the month and design questions that are at each of the levels. You may do this with the oral questions you design for your class or you may incorporate these questions on a written test. You will note that it is difficult to ask multiple choices questions at the last 4 levels.

So what is the point of this month's lesson and assigment?(S/AP/AN) It is for us to be cognizant of the fact that, although questions may seemingly just roll off our tongue as we interact with our students, the complexity of those questions is a skill we need to hone if we are to draw out more information and better quality responses from our students. This can be accomplished by developing questions at levels that require greater and deeper thinking.

Did you reflect on the 4 points I raised last month? Did you internet search "inquiry learning?" Have a great month and see you on down the road.