Using the Right Question Technique with ESL Students

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FACILITATING THE QUESTION FORMULATION TECHNIQUE (QFT)

www.rightquestion.org 2001- 2012

www.rightquestion.orgQuestioning to Develop Critical Thinking Skills: The Right Question Technique Applied to ESL

By Jennie Farnell, University of Bridgeport

Why are you here?www.rightquestion.orghttp://padlet.com/jfarnellub/conntesol

Background -- Mewww.rightquestion.org

Desperation

Class wouldnt talkOC class!!!At wits endhow to force talking?Googledand voila!3

Background -- RQIwww.rightquestion.orgStarted parent advocacyDeveloped into MicrodemocracySpread into various areasParent / family involvementEducationLocal governmentVoter engagementHealthcare / mental healthInnovation (work/business related)

*dropout prevention program 20 years ago*parents wanted to be involved but didnt know how, not even what to ask*empowerment to know how to form questions and roles they could have led to RQI concept MICRODEMOCRACY

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Relevance to education?www.rightquestion.orgTo avoid this

But seriouslywhy?www.rightquestion.orgCareer readinessRecent AACU study found fewer than 3 in 10 employers feel recent graduates are well preparedCritical thinking skillsApplying knowledge/skill to real worldWritten / oral communicationsCollegiate Learning Assessment Plus (32,000 students / 169 schools) 40% college seniors dont graduate w/complex reasoning skills employers look for

*large majority of employers do NOT feel graduates are well prepared *main areas of deficiency *applying knowledge & skils*critical thinking skills*written oral communication skills

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Common core www.rightquestion.org

Its here! Designed for college readinessCreativitydeep diveRigorCollaborativeEqualityCollege readiness

What would you add? www.rightquestion.org

http://padlet.com/jfarnellub/rqt

But how?www.rightquestion.org

RULES FOR PRODUCING QUESTIONS

Ask as many questions as you can Do not stop to discuss, judge or answer the questions Write down every question exactly as it is stated Change any statement into a question

www.rightquestion.org

RULES FOR PRODUCING QUESTIONS

Ask as many questions as you can Do not stop to discuss, judge or answer the questions Write down every question exactly as it is stated Change any statement into a question

What might be difficult about following these rules?


Review the rulesReflect think, pair, shareWhich rule might be most difficult to follow? Why?

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PRODUCING THE QUESTIONSFollow the Rules for Producing Questions. Number your questions.

QFocus:Students arent asking questions.


Small groups 3-51 note takerNEWSPRINT (NEED STICKY WALL PADS, MARKERS)

Produce as many questions as you can in 5 minutesFollow the rulesNumber the questions

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IMPROVING THE QUESTIONSYou might have these two kinds of questions in your list:

Closed-ended questions they can be answered with yes or no or with one word.

Open-ended questions they require an explanation and cannot be answered with yes or no or with one word.


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IMPROVE YOUR QUESTIONSIdentify closed- and open-ended questions.

Mark the closed-ended questions with a C and the open-ended questions with an O.www.rightquestion.org

Look over your listMark closed ended questions with CMark open ended questions with O

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IMPROVE YOUR QUESTIONSName advantages of asking closed-ended questions.Name disadvantages of asking closed-ended questions.

Name advantages of asking open-ended questions.Name disadvantages of asking open-ended questions.


T-chart5 minutes totalIn the groupshare15

IMPROVE YOUR QUESTIONSReview your list of questions and change one closed-ended question into an open-ended.

Change one open-ended question into a closed-ended one. www.rightquestion.org

PRIORITIZE YOUR QUESTIONSChoose the three most important questions from your list.

Keep in mind the QFocus.

Mark each priority question with an Xwww.rightquestion.org

HIGHLIGHTERS!

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SHARE YOUR QUESTIONSPlease share:

The questions you changed from closed to open-ended and from open-ended to closed. Read each question as originally written and how it was changed

your three priority questions

your rationale for selecting those three

the numbers of your priority questionswww.rightquestion.org

Whole groupWhere were your priority quesitons in the sequence? Probably from everywhere shows the value of generating a lot of questions before choosing priority questions

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USE YOUR QUESTIONSwww.rightquestion.orgHow?Independent projectsExperiments, presentations, interviewsGroup projectsDebatesSocratic seminarsMore???

Brainstorming

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RQT IN ACTION (modified for ESL class)www.rightquestion.orgWho -- ESL credit class: Oral Communications AdvancedGoal Oral presentation: What happiness means to me.ChallengeStudents didnt talk!Students werent self directed learners

Procedurewww.rightquestion.orgBrainstorming promptWhat is happiness? independent free writeThink, pair, share ideas about happinessRQI prompt happinessIntroduced RQI rules Skipped discussion about they could be difficultPairwork 15 minutes for as many questions as they could makeSkipped opened/closed questions & changing questionsAsked pairs to share their best questions w/class (their judgment of best)Teacher wrote questions shared

Resultswww.rightquestion.orgDo you think friends and family are part of your happiness? Is there any real meaning for happiness?What does happiness mean?Can money make you happy? How do you know you are happy? Do you think rich people are happier than poor ones?Do you agree when you're happy you don't have to worry?Is happiness just a state of mind? What is your philosophy in life about happiness? Is freedom happiness? Can we borrow happiness from someone else?Can happiness be endless? Is being healthy a part of your happiness?

Class enrollment 13! 22

Results (continued)www.rightquestion.orgWill you sacrifice your happiness for someone else? When someone comments on your posting or picture (answers), are you happy?Does living after the expression "carpe diem" make you happy? If you reach happiness is your life going to meaning (what's next?)What makes you happy? Are you happy when you achieve your goals? Do you use the smiley icon / emoji when you text, email, skype to express your happiness? Is anyone really happy? Can you tell un event that happened in your life that makes you happy? Are animals happy? Do you think being alone can be happy? Why are all kids kind of happy and adults aren't?Are you happy when your friend is happy?

Assignmentwww.rightquestion.orgUse Glogster (http://edu.glogster.com/?ref=com), Powerpoint (with recording feature), or any other presentation tool to create your assignment. Include in your presentation:Your personal answer to What makes you happy?. Use the questions we came up with in class to help focus your ideasYour advice to others for finding happiness / meaning in life. Record your presentation and support it with pictures.

Sample Responsewww.rightquestion.orgOk, admittedly the absolute best presentation Ive ever gottenTaking NO credit for students creatively and artistic ability

A more typical response www.rightquestion.org

REFLECTION1.What did you learn?What value does it have?


Right Question Institutewww.rightquestion.orgEducator resources (sign up required; free)http://rightquestion.org/educators/resources/

Feedbackwww.rightquestion.orgPlease share ideas, suggestions, additional questions, or other thoughts. All is anonymous and appreciated!Link will be open for the next few dayshttp://padlet.com/jfarnellub/feedback

Sourceswww.rightquestion.orgCox, John Woodrow. (2015) Why are so many college students failing to gain job skills before graduation? - The Washington Post. Retrieved October 18, 2015, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/01/26/why-are-so-many-college-students-failing-to-gain-job-skills-before-graduation/Educator Resource Area - Right Question Institute (Right Question Institute) http://rightquestion.org/educators/resources/ Retrieved October 18, 2015, from http://rightquestion.org/educators/resources/Employability Skills Lesson Plans and Career Readiness. (2015) Retrieved October 18, 2015, from http://www.aeseducation.com/careercenter21/employability-skills-lesson-plans/Pohlmannneethi ,Tom & Thomas, Mary. (2015) Relearning the Art of Asking Questions. Retrieved October 18, 2015, from https://hbr.org/2015/03/relearning-the-art-of-asking-questions?utm_campaign=Socialflow&utm_source=Socialflow&utm_medium=TweetSix Ways the Common Core is Good For Students. (2015) NEA Today. Retrieved October 18, 2015, from http://neatoday.org/2013/05/10/six-ways-the-common-core-is-good-for-students-2/Study finds big gaps between student and employer perceptions. (2015) Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved October 18, 2015, from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/01/20/study-finds-big-gaps-between-student-and-employer-perceptions

Happiness

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