3 Types of Questions for Higher Level Thinking

 

Human beings seemed to be innately adept at asking questions.  Over the past few weeks here are just a few interesting things that I have heard come out of students’ mouths.

 

 

 

 

 

-Why do we round up instead of down in math class?

 

 

 

-What are our armpits for?

 

 

 

-Is toothpaste a liquid or a solid?

 

 

 

-If I was bad, but really wanted coal…would Santa give it to me?

 

 

 

This week I was fortunate to be able to visit on the phone with Dr. Maurice Elias and to talk with him about questions and questioning techniques in the classroom.  He is a psychology professor at Rutgers University and the director of the Rutgers Social-Emotional Learning Lab.

 

 

 

Maurice lectures nationally and internationally to educators and parents about students’ emotional intelligence, school success, and social-emotional and character development.  Dr. Elias has written numerous books on promoting social and emotional learning and on social decision-making and problem solving.  He also writes a blog for educators and parents for the George Lucas Educational Foundation at www.edutopia.org.   In this podcast, Dr. Elias gives his thoughts on (1) the increased attention in education to higher-level questioning, (2) questioning tips and techniques for teachers, and (3) pedagogy that fosters higher-level. 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

 

 

Elias, M. J., Weissberg, R. P., & Zins, J. E. (2004). Promoting Social and Emotional Learning: Guidelines for Educators. Alexandria: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development.

 

 

 

Friedlander, B. S., Tobias, S. E., Goleman, D., & Elias, M. J. (2013). Emotionally intelligent parenting: How to raise a self-disciplined, responsible, socially skilled child. New York: Harmony Books.