Thinking with Technology

Activity 3.5

Writing Your Own Curriculum-Framing Questions

Step 1: Creating a First Draft of Questions

Writing Curriculum-Framing Questions often takes time and practice to develop. They are sometimes difficult to create and usually require many revisions. Some teachers find it easier to start with the big idea, draft a Critical Question, and then work on the Focus and Content Questions. Other teachers find it easier to look at the specific unit(s) they teach and then see how they fit into a bigger idea and Critical Question.

No matter which method or process you choose, below are some tips for writing a Critical Question:

Think about why you are studying this material. Why do we care about this? What is the value of studying this?
What is the big concept you are trying to uncover? What is the long-term understanding that you want learners to gain?
Do your standards have any “big concept” words that you could work from and build upon?
Do not worry about the mechanics and language. Focus on brainstorming.
Stay away from questions asking for definitions or an understanding of a "simple" process.
Ask yourself if the question has basically only one, or one narrow group, of correct answers—if it does, it is not an Critical or Focus Question.
You may want to write the questions in adult language to capture the essential understandings, and then rewrite in "learner" language.

A Process for Writing Your Own Questions

View the Sample Critical and Focus Questions for ideas.
Choose the process of creating Critical or Focus Questions that best suits you and draft a first set.
Open the worksheet to complete the exercise in Writing Your Own Questions .
Use the questions in one of the columns to develop answers for the Curriculum-Framing Questions table (in the worksheet above).
Write a first draft of your Curriculum-Framing Questions.

Step 2: Targeting Thinking Skills When Revising Questions

Open your Project Plan and review the thinking skills listed in your "Habits of Learning Taxonomy."
What thinking skills would be necessary to answer your current draft of Curriculum-Framing Questions? Consider whether any of your questions should be revised to better target those thinking skills.
Type this second draft of Curriculum-Framing Questions in your Project Plan.

Next: Proceed to Activity 3.6

Thinking with Technology Module 3 - Curriculum-Framing Questions to Support Thinking Skills

	Activity 3.5 Writing Your Own Curriculum-Framing Questions Step 1: Creating a First Draft of Questions Writing Curriculum-Framing Questions often takes time and practice to develop. They are sometimes difficult to create and usually require many revisions. Some teachers find it easier to start with the big idea, draft a Critical Question, and then work on the Focus and Content Questions. Other teachers find it easier to look at the specific unit(s) they teach and then see how they fit into a bigger idea and Critical Question. No matter which method or process you choose, below are some tips for writing a Critical Question: Think about why you are studying this material. Why do we care about this? What is the value of studying this? What is the big concept you are trying to uncover? What is the long-term understanding that you want learners to gain? Do your standards have any “big concept” words that you could work from and build upon? Do not worry about the mechanics and language. Focus on brainstorming. Stay away from questions asking for definitions or an understanding of a "simple" process. Ask yourself if the question has basically only one, or one narrow group, of correct answers—if it does, it is not an Critical or Focus Question. You may want to write the questions in adult language to capture the essential understandings, and then rewrite in "learner" language. A Process for Writing Your Own Questions View the Sample Critical and Focus Questions for ideas. Choose the process of creating Critical or Focus Questions that best suits you and draft a first set. Open the worksheet to complete the exercise in Writing Your Own Questions . Use the questions in one of the columns to develop answers for the Curriculum-Framing Questions table (in the worksheet above). Write a first draft of your Curriculum-Framing Questions. Step 2: Targeting Thinking Skills When Revising Questions Open your Project Plan and review the thinking skills listed in your "Habits of Learning Taxonomy." What thinking skills would be necessary to answer your current draft of Curriculum-Framing Questions? Consider whether any of your questions should be revised to better target those thinking skills. Type this second draft of Curriculum-Framing Questions in your Project Plan. Next: Proceed to Activity 3.6