asking questions korte

Asking QuestionsA way of thinking for better results.

Russell KorteIllinois Foundry for Innovation in Engineering EducationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

korte@illinois.edu www.ifoundry.illinois.edu

©iFoundry 2010

Asking questions

1. Example of a real engineering problem.2. The importance of questions.3. A structure of thinking.4. Six types of questions.

True story:

. . . North Shore trees cut down

True story:

. . . North Shore trees cut down. . . wanting more sun on the highway to interact with salt and melt ice, [the highway dept.] commissioned a power company to cut trees that shaded the roadway . . .

True story:

. . . North Shore trees cut down. . . wanting more sun on the highway to interact with salt and melt ice, [the highway dept.] commissioned a power company to cut trees that shaded the roadway . . .

[The supervisor] apologized on behalf of the department for not consulting first with local interests.

True story:

. . . North Shore trees cut down. . . wanting more sun on the highway to interact with salt and melt ice, [the highway dept.] commissioned a power company to cut trees that shaded the roadway . . .

[The supervisor] apologized on behalf of the department for not consulting first with local interests.

"It's a challenge to balance the different perspectives up here. But we could have been more sensitive to people's concerns."

The power of questions

Questions have changed our world

• Example: Early tribes constantly moved in search of food and water.

– “Where can we go to find food?”

The power of questions

Questions have changed our world

• Example: Early tribes constantly moved in search of food and water.

– “Where can we go to find food?”

– “How can we grow our own food?”

Question Thinking

System for transforming thinking, actions, and results.

Questions drive results.

Questions drive results.

What actions follow from these questions.

• How will I get a good grade in this class?• What work is required to pass?

Questions drive results.

What actions follow from these questions.• How will I get a good grade in this class?• What work is required to pass?

What actions follow from these questions:• What can I learn from this class?• How does this information relate to other

knowledge?

Learn to observe your hidden questions.

Observe the kinds of questions you ask--are you judging or learning.

• Judging questions: – Why isn’t this done yet?– What were they thinking?

• Learning questions: – How can I help finish this? – What does this mean to them?

Learn to observe your hidden questions.

Observe the kinds of questions you ask--are you judging or learning.

• Are your questions seeking facts?Is there additional data we’ve overlooked?

• Or advocating personal preferences?Isn’t this a bad idea?

Consider the consequences.

• Learning questions- Energize people- Stimulate creativity- Increase productivity

• Judging questions- Drain energy- Close minds- Create roadblocks

The power of questions

• Questions drive thinking forward.

• Answers usually stop thinking, unless they trigger further questions.

• Intellectual excellence is based on formulating good questions.

Simple or Complex Questions

Simple questions: are answered by definitions

Complex questions: answered through argumentation and negotiation.

A Structure of Thinking

2. from a point of view,

3. based on assumptions,

4. leading toimplications orconsequences.

5. We use data, facts, and experiences,

6. to make inferences and judgments,

7. based on concepts and theories,

8. to answer a question or solve a problem.

A Structure of Thinking

1. We think for a purpose (goal),

What is the purpose of this?

What are we trying to accomplish?

A Structure of Thinking

2. from a point of view,

What is our view of this?

What is their view of this?

Is there another way of looking at this?

A Structure of Thinking

2. from a point of view, 3. based on assumptions,

What are we taking for granted here?

Why are we assuming that . . . ?

Are our assumptions correct?

A Structure of Thinking

2. from a point of view,

3. based on assumptions,

4. leading to implications or consequences.

Are we implying that . . . ?

If we do this, what are the likely consequences?

A Structure of Thinking

2. from a point of view,

3. based on assumptions,

4. leading toImplicationsOrconsequences.

5. We use data, facts, and experiences,

What evidence do we have to support our comments?

Have we missed any information?

A Structure of Thinking

2. from a point of view,

3. based on assumptions,

4. leading toImplicationsOrconsequences.

5. We use data, facts, and experiences,

6. to make inferences and judgments,

How did we reach that conclusion?

Is there another conclusion we could reach?

A Structure of Thinking

2. from a point of view,

3. based on assumptions,

4. Leading toimplications orconsequences

5. We use data, facts, and experiences,

6. to make inferences and judgments,

7. based on concepts and theories,

What is the main idea underlying our judgment?

Are we using the appropriate concepts?

What if we use rival theories?

A Structure of Thinking

2. from a point of view,

3. based on assumptions,

4. leading toImplicationsOrconsequences.

5. We use data, facts, and experiences,

6. to make inferences and judgments,

7. based on concepts and theories,What is the question?

Is it an important question?

What other questions might be important?

8. to answer a question or solve a problem.

A Structure of Thinking

2. from a point of view,

3. based on assumptions,

4. leading toimplications orconsequences.

5. We use data, facts, and experiences,

6. to make inferences and judgments,

7. based on concepts and theories,

8. to answer a question or solve a problem.

6 types of questions

1. Who and What questions• Challenges relating to people, things.

2. How much questions• Challenges relating to measuring and counting.

3. When questions• Challenges relating to scheduling and timing.

6 types of questions

4. Where questions• Challenges relating to directions and fit.

5. How questions• Challenges relating to how things influence others.

6. Why questions• Challenges relating to doing the right thing.

Asking questions for intellectual depth.

Simply reading and/or listening is easy.

Thinking deeply about what you read and hear is hard.

Formulating good questions leads you to think more deeply about what you read and hear.