improve your questions
1. Review your list of questions. Mark closed questions with a "C" and open questions with an "O".
2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of closed and open questions. At what times are open-ended questions more useful? When might closed questions be more useful? Download the QFT handout and complete the table: Advantages and Disadvantages of Open and Closed Questions. 3. Look carefully at your questions. Improve two questions by converting one open-ended question into a closed question and converting one closed question to an open question. (If you find you are having trouble, try these question stems.) Write your new questions on your chart paper or collaborative document. 4. Discuss in what ways changing questions might make you look at questions differently. Next Step: Prioritize |
Closed Questions
Can be answered with "yes" or "no" or in just one or two words. Open Questions Require more than one or two words to answer. |
Teacher Note
This part of the QFT is designed to help students consider the types of questions they ask, and help them ask better ones in the future. Students can begin to understand that when they ask better questions they get better answers. You might be tempted to skip this part, but it is important for students just beginning the process of forming their questions.
Discuss with your students the advantages and disadvantages of closed and open questions:
What is the value to both types?
In what instances might you use one instead of the other?
For what reasons might you want to change from one type to the other?
In what ways did changing a question from one type to the other help you look at the issue differently?
This part of the QFT is designed to help students consider the types of questions they ask, and help them ask better ones in the future. Students can begin to understand that when they ask better questions they get better answers. You might be tempted to skip this part, but it is important for students just beginning the process of forming their questions.
Discuss with your students the advantages and disadvantages of closed and open questions:
What is the value to both types?
In what instances might you use one instead of the other?
For what reasons might you want to change from one type to the other?
In what ways did changing a question from one type to the other help you look at the issue differently?