Questions Notes

Objective questions—dealing with data and sensory observation to develop a shared understanding:

• Whatstoodoutinthevideo(e.g.,images,sounds,words,technologies)?• Whattypesofcommunicationdidyousee(e.g.,verbal,signage,

face-to-face)?• Whatexamplesofliteracydidyousee?• Whatdidyounoticeaboutthepeopleinthevideo?• Whatelse?

Reflective questions—related to personal reactions and experiences to engage memory and the imagination:

• Whatwasyourinitialreactiontothevideo’spresentationofliteracy?• Whatscenesinthevideoexcitedyou?Concernedyou(e.g.,

concerningtechnology,concerningeducation)?• Whatpersonaleventsorexperiencesdidyouassociatewithanypart

ofthisvideo?• Whatelse?

Interpretive questions—about meaning, significance and implications that lead to higher order thinking:

• Howdidthevideochallengeoraffirmwhatyouknowaboutliteracy?• Whatrelationshipsdidyouseeinthevideo?• Whatbigideasdoesthevideoconvey(e.g.,theimplicationsof

instantaccesstonever-endingcommunication)?• Whataboutliteracywouldyouaddtothisvideo?• Whatelse?

Decisional questions—concerned with resolution and relevant next steps:

• Howcouldyouusethisliteracyvideoinyourwork(e.g.,aseducator,parent,employer)?

• Whatdoesthevideosuggestasanextstepforyou(e.g.aseducator,parent,employer)?

• Whoelseshouldseethisliteracyvideo?Why?• Whatelse?

Focused Conversation Questions forthevideoLiteracy: A World to Discover Literacy

A World to Discover

Objective:To assist discussion groups or individuals to reflect on and deepen their understanding of literacy, particularly how it impacts their world.

The purpose of the questions is to stimulate individual thinking and sharing among members of a group; not all questions in each section need to be used.

Facilitator TipsPrepare for the meeting by doing the following:• Becomefamiliarwiththeliteracyvideo(s).• Provideparticipantswithinformation,

includinganyhandoutsandvideolinks,andallowforsufficienttimetoreviewtheresource.

• Chooseaflexible,well-equippedspace.Ensurethattechnologyrequirementsaremet.Considerorganizingthespacesothateveryonehasaplacetositandwrite,andsothateachparticipantcaneasilyinteractwithyouandotherparticipants.

As you lead the focused conversation, do the following:• SharetheWorkingAssumptions.• Usethefocusedconversationquestionsto

guidetheconversation.• Maintainobjectivity.• Assume(orshare)responsibilityforthe

groupconversation.• Usetimeandspaceintentionally.• Adapttochangingsituations.• Managetheexistingrelationships.• Readtheunderlyingdynamicsofthegroup.• Evokeparticipationandcreativity.• Honourthegroupandaffirmitswisdom.

Focused conversationisaguidedconversationtechniquebasedonaspecificmethod ofquestioning.Ithelpspeopleprocessinformationandreachtheirownthoughtful conclusions.Focusedconversationinvolvesdiscussingandansweringaseriesof questionsbasedonfourlevelsofthinking:

Formorespecificdetailsaboutthefocusedconversationmethod, gotohttp://topfacilitation.com/Docs/AFC.pdf

Objective questionsdealingwithdataand sensoryobservation

Reflective questionsrelatedtopersonal

reactionsandexperiences

Interpretive questionsaboutmeaning,significanceand

implications

Decisional questionsconcernedwith

resolution

Working Assumptions1.Everyonehaswisdom.2.Weneedeveryone’swisdomforthewisestresult.3.Therearenowronganswers.Therearenoright answers—onlythebestatthetime.4.Thewholeisgreaterthanthesumofitsparts (i.e.,therelationshipsbetweentheideasaswell asthecontent).5.Everyonewillhearothersandeveryonewillbeheard.

Facilitator TipsPrepare for the meeting by doing the following:• Becomefamiliarwiththeliteracyvideo(s).• Provideparticipantswithinformation,

includinganyhandoutsandvideolinks,andallowforsufficienttimetoreviewtheresource.

• Chooseaflexible,well-equippedspace.Ensurethattechnologyrequirementsaremet.Considerorganizingthespacesothateveryonehasaplacetositandwrite,andsothateachparticipantcaneasilyinteractwithyouandotherparticipants.

As you lead the focused conversation, do the following:• SharetheWorkingAssumptions.• Usethefocusedconversationquestionsto

guidetheconversation.• Maintainobjectivity.• Assume(orshare)responsibilityforthe

groupconversation.• Usetimeandspaceintentionally.• Adapttochangingsituations.• Managetheexistingrelationships.• Readtheunderlyingdynamicsofthegroup.• Evokeparticipationandcreativity.• Honourthegroupandaffirmitswisdom.

Focused conversationisaguidedconversationtechniquebasedonaspecificmethod ofquestioning.Ithelpspeopleprocessinformationandreachtheirownthoughtful conclusions.Focusedconversationinvolvesdiscussingandansweringaseriesof questionsbasedonfourlevelsofthinking:

Formorespecificdetailsaboutthefocusedconversationmethod, goto http://topfacilitation.com/Docs/AFC.pdf

Objective questionsdealingwithdataand sensoryobservation

Reflective questionsrelatedtopersonal

reactionsandexperiences

Interpretive questionsaboutmeaning,significanceand

implications

Decisional questionsconcernedwith

resolution

Working Assumptions1.Everyonehaswisdom.2.Weneedeveryone’swisdomforthewisestresult.3.Therearenowronganswers.Therearenoright answers—onlythebestatthetime.4.Thewholeisgreaterthanthesumofitsparts (i.e.,therelationshipsbetweentheideasaswell asthecontent).5.Everyonewillhearothersandeveryonewillbeheard.

Objective

Interpretive

Re�ective

Decisional

Literacy A World to Discover

Literacy A World to Discover