Techniques for Encouraging Critical Questioning

When Clayton Christensen walked Harvard Business School, he began carrying a notebook everywhere, carefully jotting down the most insightful questions his classmates asked. Then each night, Christensen revisited those questions, turning them over in his mind. He was fascinated by the thinking behind each question and this deep understanding of the mechanics of great questioning helped to unlock deeper insights and solutions throughout his career. Approaching curiosity with rigor is a fantastic way to build critical thinking skills. Here are five suggestions to unlock the powerful ability to ask better questions. 1️⃣ Hold Your Hypothesis Loosely: Imagine your first solution is just a placeholder. Great problem-solvers are flexible and ready to let go of their initial answers if evidence leads elsewhere. 2️⃣ Listen More Than You Talk: Great questions come from deep listening. Tune in fully to what others say to discover insights hidden in plain sight. 3️⃣ Keep Your Questions Open-Ended: Instead of asking, "Is this solution right?" try asking, "What would make this solution fail?" or "How could we approach this differently?" Open-ended questions open doors. 4️⃣ Consider the Counterintuitive: Don't fear being the person who challenges popular opinions. Asking an unexpected question can be uncomfortable, but it might be what's needed to redirect the group toward a better answer. 5️⃣ Stew in Your Problems: Give your questions space. Christensen didn't rush his reflections; he let them simmer, knowing that thoughtful inquiry often takes time. Start today. Try asking the better question, and let me know how it transforms your ability to tackle any challenge.

If our students passively absorb info, we failed them. They need active, meaningful, enduring learning. We do that by increasing conceptual friction (nod to Jason Gulya). Students need challenges and complexities to increase Critical thinking, problem-solving, deeper understanding. ✅ 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 #AI 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ➡️ Structured academic controversy Assign students different stances on an issue. Use AI to generate arguments for each side. ➡️ Predict-observe-explain (POE) activities Students predict outcomes, observe results, and explain observations. Use AI to simulate physical phenomena or historical events. Students test predictions and refine their understanding. ➡️ AI-generated prompts for critical thinking Generate complex, open-ended questions. Require students to apply knowledge in new ways. (Use Ruben Hassid Prompt Maker GPT to improve prompts.) ➡️ Interactive simulations and scenarios Create interactive simulations that mimic real-world scenarios. In a physics class, AI can simulate different frictional forces and their effects on motion, allowing students to experiment and observe outcomes in a controlled environment. ➡️ Analyzing AI responses Ask AI to write an essay or solve a problem. Students analyze and critique the AI responses. Identify errors, biases, and areas for improvement. ➡️ AI as a debate partner Use AI to simulate a debate partner. Help students practice argumentation skills. They respond to AI-generated counterarguments in real-time. ➡️ Scaffolded assignments Students use AI tools at different stages of their work. Brainstorm ideas, draft an outline, and refine final product. ➡️ Role-playing and simulations Simulate negotiations or market analysis. Provide a dynamic, interactive learning experience. Students and AI take on different roles in a simulated environment. ➡️ Feedback and revision cycles Provide instant feedback on student work. Encourage multiple revision cycles. ➡️ Ethical and societal implications Explore ethical and societal implications of decisions. Simulate the impact of different policies on society. ✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ➡️ Co-create expectations With students, define appropriate use and how AI should be cited. ➡️ Encourage reflection After using AI, students reflect on their experiences: How they'll use AI differently in the future. How AI influenced their thinking. What they learned. ➡️ Provide support and resources Tutorials, help sessions, online resources. Explain how to use AI effectively and ethically. ------------------------- Thoughtfully integrate AI into your classroom to ⬆️ conceptual friction. Challenge students. Promote critical thinking. Prepare them for an AI-infused future. ------------------------- ♻️ 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿

How to Master the Socratic Method: A Step-by-Step Guide Socratic Questioning is a powerful technique for fostering critical thinking and better decision-making. Step 1: Start with Open-Ended Questions Begin by identifying the problem you aim to solve. ↳ Open-ended questions are your catalyst. These questions should encourage expansive thinking and avoid simple yes/no answers. For instance: → What is the problem at hand? → Why is this an issue? → Who is affected by this problem? Step 2: Propose Ideas Based on these Questions Once you have articulated the problem, propose your initial thoughts or hypotheses. ↳ This step is crucial for setting a baseline for your critical examination. → What is your initial hypothesis? → What are the origins of your current thinking on this problem? → How did you arrive at this conclusion? Step 3: Probe with Progressive Questioning Now, delve deeper into your initial thoughts by asking progressively targeted questions. ↳ The goal is to test the robustness of your arguments and identify any flaws or gaps. → Why do you believe this hypothesis? → Is your thinking too vague? → What is the rationale behind your assumptions? Step 4: Challenge Underlying Assumptions Expose and scrutinize the assumptions that underpin your original thinking. ↳ This step is about being ruthlessly honest with yourself. → Why do you believe this assumption to be true? → How do you know it’s true? → How would you know if you were wrong? Step 5: Evaluate the Evidence Examine the evidence you used to back your thinking. ↳ Assess its credibility and look for hidden evidence that might have been overlooked. → What concrete evidence supports your hypothesis? → Is it based on reliable sources? → Could there be hidden evidence that contradicts your hypothesis? Step 6: Understand the Consequences of Being Wrong Consider the implications of errors in your thinking. ↳ Understanding the stakes will help you gauge the rigor of your analysis. → What are the potential consequences of being wrong? → Can mistakes be quickly corrected, or not? → What is the risk-reward ratio here? Step 7: Evaluate Potential Alternatives Broaden your perspective by considering alternative viewpoints. ↳ This will give you a fuller understanding of the problem and possible solutions. → What alternative beliefs or viewpoints might exist? → Why might these alternatives be superior to your original thinking? → Why do others believe these alternatives to be valid? What do they know that you don’t? Step 8: After Zooming In, Zoom Out Finally, revisit your original thinking. ↳ Reflect on the entire process to draw broader conclusions about your approach to problem-solving. → Was your initial thinking correct? If not, where did it err? → What systemic errors can you identify in your thought process? → How can you apply these insights moving forward to avoid similar mistakes? P.S. Repost if useful ♻️ #ideaskills #criticalthinking #decisionmaking