The Right Question Institute will be delivering a four-part workshop series with the Kentucky Educational Development Corporation (KEDC). This is a closed event for educators in the KEDC Project RENAISSANCE cohort. Please see below for details and resources for each of the four sessions.
Session #1: The Power of Question Formulation for Lifelong Learning (Wednesday, January 28th from 4pm-5pm EST)
Why is asking your own questions powerful, and what are the barriers that prevent some people from doing so? How do we ensure that all students ask questions and feel greater agency at school (and beyond)?
This introductory active learning virtual experience will introduce The Question Formulation Technique (QFT), a simple, powerful strategy for teaching students to ask and work with their own questions. Participants will discuss the importance of questioning using various sources from researchers and academics, learn how the QFT works by using it to tackle an authentic challenge facing educators, and explore relevant classroom examples from arts educators across the country.
Note: In preparation for Session #2, participants will review a classroom video and then complete a guided lesson planning tool to develop a lesson idea for a QFT—it is ok if it is rough! We will refine it in Session #2.
Session #1 Resources:
- Resources will be added here just before the session.
Session #2: Designing for Student Questioning in the Classroom (Wednesday, February 18th from 4pm-5pm EST)
How do you design and plan for student questioning that aligns to and propels your existing teaching and learning objectives?
Participants in this session will learn best practices for designing a Question Formulation Technique (QFT) lesson that enhances (rather than deviates from or adds on to) your existing curriculum. Participants will explore of examples and non-examples and analysis of real student work and then work collaboratively in small groups to refine and expand their own lesson idea.
Note: In preparation for Session #3: participants will complete guided lesson planning tool to complete a QFT lesson plan. There will be opportunities to review and revise the plan in Session #3.
Session #2 Resources:
- Resources will be added here just before the session.
Session #3: Pictures of Practice (Wednesday, March 11th from 4pm-5pm EST)
How do you customize the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) process to your setting and your learners? Hear from an experienced teacher about how they have applied the QFT in an arts setting and share tips and insights. Prepare for your own lesson by discussing best practices for facilitation, troubleshooting strategies, and adaptations to support all learners.
Note: In preparation for Session #4, participants are expected to review materials from the previous sections, make final revisions to their lesson plan, and then practice facilitating their lesson with at least one learner. (Some teachers will be able to use their own students; others will find it more feasible to practice with a friend, relative, or colleague).
Session #3 Resources:
- Resources will be added here just before the session.
Session #4: Using Student Questions to Drive and Sustain Learning (Thursday, April 23rd from 4pm-5pm EST)
How might you sustain a culture of curiosity that outlasts one lesson? In this final session, participants will reflect on their own Question Formulation Technique facilitation and then expand their QFT toolbox with ideas for how to make questioning more of a culture than a “one-off” activity, including a discussion of the myth and mythology of “good” questions and practical ideas for how to use student questions to drive the subsequent steps of learning.
Session #4 Resources:
- Resources will be added here just before the session.