asking questions korte

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Asking Questions A way of thinking for better results. Russell Korte Illinois Foundry for Innovation in Engineering Education University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign [email protected] www.ifoundry.illinois.edu ©iFoundry 2010

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Page 1: Asking questions korte

Asking QuestionsA way of thinking for better results.

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

[email protected] www.ifoundry.illinois.edu

©iFoundry 2010

Page 2: Asking questions korte

Asking questions

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

Page 3: Asking questions korte

True story:

. . . North Shore trees cut down

Page 4: Asking questions korte

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 . . .

Page 5: Asking questions korte

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.

Page 6: Asking questions korte

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."

Page 7: Asking questions korte

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?”

Page 8: Asking questions korte

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?”

Page 9: Asking questions korte

Question Thinking

System for transforming thinking, actions, and results.

Questions drive results.

Page 10: Asking questions korte

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?

Page 11: Asking questions korte

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?

Page 12: Asking questions korte

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?

Page 13: Asking questions korte

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?

Page 14: Asking questions korte

Consider the consequences.

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

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

Page 15: Asking questions korte

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.

Page 16: Asking questions korte

Simple or Complex Questions

Simple questions: are answered by definitions

Complex questions: answered through argumentation and negotiation.

Page 17: Asking questions korte

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.

Page 18: Asking questions korte

A Structure of Thinking

1. We think for a purpose (goal),

What is the purpose of this?

What are we trying to accomplish?

Page 19: Asking questions korte

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?

Page 20: Asking questions korte

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?

Page 21: Asking questions korte

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?

Page 22: Asking questions korte

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?

Page 23: Asking questions korte

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?

Page 24: Asking questions korte

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?

Page 25: Asking questions korte

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.

Page 26: Asking questions korte

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.

Page 27: Asking questions korte

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.

Page 28: Asking questions korte

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.

Page 29: Asking questions korte

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.