Drive Instruction With Unanswered Questions
We learn best when we’re interested in what we’re learning about. In a standards based classroom, however, it’s difficult to authorize science research about nuclear power plants when the science standards cover the parts of a plant.
Rather than let students loose completely, consider giving them freedom within your grade-level curriculum. Allow students to generate questions and use those questions to drive your instruction.
You have to teach about the solar system, but if your students are particularly interested in the atmosphere of the planets, then allow some extension time to feed that scholarly hunger.
How To Determine Student’s Questions
At a Sandra Kaplan training, she advised using a simple picture of the topic with absolutely no explanation. Students then ask questions (at all sorts of levels, depending on their prior knowledge). As a teacher, you record these to guide students’ exploration.
I recently used this idea to great success in a unit on alternative fuel sources. A quick picture of a nuclear power plant lead to some easily answered but fascinating questions.
However, now I’m beginning instruction on Ancient Egypt. The picture method may not work for this abstract concept. I could announce that Ancient Egypt is our next topic and ask for questions to be emailed by the next day.
- The following day, we could group these questions as a class activity according to some criteria (perhaps: geography, religion, government, art, and social life).
- These questions could serve as a marker for our learning progress.
- Further, students could bring in their answers to these questions, placing their answers on post-its on top of the questions.
- Unanswered questions could lead into extension menu activities.
Or…
- I could group students based on common questions – effectively forming interest groups within Ancient Egyptian history.
- These groups could provide answers via a presentation after completing research.
- This is similar to a jigsaw, but based on student interest – adding the motivation I often find lacking in a jigsaw activity.
Further Resources
- Expanding Cooperative Learning Through Group Investigation
, by Sharen & Sharen.
- Group Investigation and Student Learning, a study of these techniques used in Singapore schools (Google Books link)
- Independent Study, by Sandra Kaplan – great resources on organizing and refining student questions.