Encourage critical thinking with 3 questions | Brian Oshiro | TEDxXiguan

Summary

This video explores how teachers, parents, and schools can foster critical thinking and creativity in students by asking better, deeper questions. It contrasts lower-order questions (fact-based) with higher-order questions that require analysis, application, and synthesis. The speaker emphasizes the importance of starting with foundational knowledge ('what'), moving to personal relevance ('why'), and culminating in complex problem-solving ('how'). Encouraging risk-taking and providing an environment where students engage with uncertainty is key to preparing them for real-world challenges. The video advocates for a collective effort to ask more thoughtful questions that develop the next generation of critical thinkers and innovators.

Takeaways

• 😀 Effective teaching goes beyond memorization and involves fostering creativity and critical thinking in students.
• 😀 Higher-order questions (e.g., 'Why?' or 'How?') are essential for stimulating deep thinking and allowing students to apply knowledge in real-world contexts.
• 😀 Lower-order questions, such as factual recall ('What are the causes of climate change?'), are valuable for assessing basic knowledge but should not dominate teaching.
• 😀 Encouraging risk-taking and embracing uncertainty in learning helps students develop the skills needed to solve complex problems.
• 😀 Teachers should move beyond simply asking questions with correct answers and create opportunities for students to engage with open-ended, challenging questions.
• 😀 In an ideal classroom, students should first establish foundational knowledge (via lower-order questions) and then be challenged to think critically (via higher-order questions).
• 😀 Asking 'Why?' questions helps students connect textbook knowledge to personal relevance, making learning more meaningful and applicable.
• 😀 'How?' questions prompt students to justify their answers and support their reasoning with evidence, helping to develop logical thinking.
• 😀 Schools need to create environments where students feel safe to take risks and make mistakes, encouraging creative and critical thinking.
• 😀 Teachers should focus not only on teaching the 'what' (facts) but also on guiding students through the 'how' (application and problem-solving).
• 😀 The collaboration between teachers, students, and parents is crucial in promoting an environment of inquiry and supporting the development of critical thinking and creativity in students.

Q & A

Why do school leaders in China want to improve creativity and critical thinking in their classrooms?

School leaders in China are concerned that their students are mostly rote learners, meaning they excel at memorizing facts but lack the opportunity to apply knowledge outside of the classroom. They want to inject new teaching methodologies to promote creativity and critical thinking, similar to what is seen in Western classrooms.

What role do questions play in a classroom according to the speaker?

Questions serve several key functions in the classroom: they bring textbook material to life, engage students, check for understanding, and ensure that students are absorbing the knowledge they need. However, not all questions are equally effective in fostering deep learning.

What is the difference between lower-order and higher-order questions?

Lower-order questions, like 'What are three causes of climate change?', require students to recall specific facts. Higher-order questions, like 'Why do some claim that climate change is the biggest crisis facing this generation?', challenge students to think critically, make connections, and analyze the broader implications of the topic.

Why does the speaker argue that higher-order questions are essential in education?

Higher-order questions stimulate critical thinking and provide students with opportunities to engage with content more deeply. They encourage students to connect knowledge to real-world issues, evaluate different perspectives, and come up with solutions, skills that are vital for success beyond the classroom.

What are some examples of lower-order and higher-order questions about climate change provided in the script?

Lower-order question: 'What are three causes of climate change?' Higher-order question: 'Why do some claim that climate change is the biggest crisis facing this generation?' The latter question pushes students to think beyond facts and consider broader implications.

What does the speaker mean when saying that 'real life is a bunch of squiggles'?

This metaphor emphasizes that real-world problems are often messy and don’t have clear-cut solutions. Unlike the structured answers to textbook questions, real-life challenges require people to navigate uncertainty, which is why students should be exposed to complex, open-ended questions in the classroom.

How can we better prepare students for real-world challenges, according to the speaker?

Students should be exposed to tougher, more complex questions in the classroom that require critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving. By doing so, they will be better prepared to handle the uncertainties and challenges they will face in the real world.

Why does the speaker believe asking 'Why' and 'How' questions is important?

'Why' and 'How' questions encourage students to connect knowledge to their own experiences and think critically about the material. These questions push students to explain their reasoning, understand the relevance of the content, and develop a deeper understanding of the subject.

What challenge do students face when answering 'Why' questions, and how should teachers address it?

Students often face the challenge of feeling vulnerable when answering 'Why' questions, as they may fear being judged for not providing the 'correct' answer. Teachers can address this by creating a supportive environment that values risk-taking and encourages students to articulate their reasoning, even if their answers are not definitive.

What is the speaker's perspective on the role of parents in fostering creativity and critical thinking in students?

Parents can support critical thinking by asking their children 'Why' and 'How' questions, helping them process and explain what they are learning. This interaction allows children to consolidate their knowledge and connect academic learning to their everyday lives, reinforcing critical thinking skills outside of the classroom.