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THE QUESTION FORMULATION TECHNIQUE (QFT) www.rightquestion.org

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WHAT IS THE QUESTION FORMULATION TECHNIQUE? QFT offers a process and structure within which students can deepen their own understanding of core content, and curriculum materials It fosters students ability to produce their own questions and improve and prioritize them.

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QFT Encourages 3 Ways of Thinking Divergent thinking is the ability to generate a wide range of ideas, and think broadly and creatively. There is no right or wrong way. Convergent thinking is the ability to analyze and synthesize information and ideas while moving toward an answer or conclusion. Metacognition is the ability to think about ones own thinking and learning. (a.k.a. reflection)

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Using Student Questions Your questions can be used for many purposes, including the following: Conduct Research Reports Conduct Experiments Independent Projects Write Papers/Essays Group and Individual Projects Socratic Seminars/Debates Prepare for Presentations/Interviews

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7 Steps of QFT 1. The Question Focus (QFocus) 2. The Rules for Producing Questions 3. Producing Questions 4. Categorizing Questions 5. Prioritizing Questions 6. Next Steps 7. Reflection

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Step 1 Use A Question Focus Your teacher will provide a Question Focus prompt This could be in the form of Provocative statement Political Cartoon Statement of Fact Directional Image Video Clip

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Step 2 Review the 4 Rules for Producing Questions 1. Ask as many questions as you can 2. Do not stop to discuss, judge, or answer any of the questions 3. Write down every question exactly as it was stated 4. Change any statements into questions

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Step 3 Divergent Thinking: Students Produce Their Own Questions Your teacher presents the Qfocus You are given a set amount of time to generate questions (Example given was 3-6 minutes) You are invited to ask all kinds of questions Your teacher monitors to ensure rules are followed

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Step 4 Categorizing Your Questions As Opened-ended or Closed-ended Questions Your teacher will introduce the definitions of open- ended and closed-ended questions You will use those definitions to divide your questions into two categories.

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Open-ended & Closed-ended Questions Open-ended questions require an explanation and cannot be answered with yes or no or with one word. Mark these with an O. Close-ended questions can be answered with yes or no or with one word. Mark these with a C.

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Value of Each Question Type You should identify the advantages and disadvantages of both closed-ended and open-ended question Please note that both types of questions are useful. There are times in which open-ended questions are more useful and other times that closed-ended are what you need.

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Change Two Questions Choose one closed-ended question from your list and change it into an open-ended one. Choose one open-ended question from your list and change it into an closed-ended one.

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Step 5 Convergent Thinking: Prioritize the Questions Keeping the prompt in mind choose the 3 most important questions that meet your teachers criteria Explain why these three questions best meet the criteria

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Step 6 Next Steps What do we do with all these questions?

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Step 7 Reflection Students reflect on their learning by answering: 1. What did you learn? 2. How can you use what you learned?