TACTics Journal

A Publication for and by TOC for Education Practitioners

June 1, 2001

 

This Week’s Issue:

Elementary/Secondary Tactics

   (1)  Teacher, Teacher, Did I Get the Right Answer? Cheryl A. Edwards

Quote

    (2)     Richard Bach

Editors’ Notes

(3)       Kay Buckner-Seal

Connections

    (4)     5th Annual TOCFE International Conference/First Annual TOCFE International Student’s Conference, Cheryl A. Edwards

 

ELEMENTARY/SECONDARY TACTICS

(1)   TEACHER, TEACHER, DID I GET THE RIGHT ANSWER?

By Cheryl A. Edwards

 

So much in TOC depends on good questioning.  Socratic questioning— questioning that requires an answer that you or your students have not yet discovered, questioning that may often not have one “right” answer, questioning that really impels the learner to probe for an answer that creates a new reality.

 

In an article shared in TACTics / October 1999, Jo Painter in “Questioning Techniques for Gifted Students” quotes Richard Paul as he emphasizes the importance of what he calls Socratic questions.  These are questions that probe the underlying logic or structure of our thinking and enable us to make reasonable judgements.  He lists six types of questions:

1.        Questions of Clarification

What do you mean by that?

Can you give me an example?

2.       Questions that probe assumptions:

What is being assumed?

Why would somebody say/think that?

3.       Questions that probe reason and evidence:

What are your reasons for saying/thinking that?

What criteria do you base that argument on?

4.       Questions that probe implications and consequences:

What might be the consequences of behaving like that?

Do you think you might be jumping to conclusions?

5.       Questions about viewpoints or perspectives:

What would be another way of saying that?

How do your ideas differ from his?

6.       Questions about the question:

How is that question going to help us?

Can you think of any other question that might help us?

 

Socratic questions are open and if used appropriately can stimulate inquiry and exploration.

 

Can you recall a time when you asked your students a question that really got them thinking?  What did it do for them as learners?  Were your students satisfied with just one answer?  Were they eager to end the discussion or did they want to continue the exploring?  Did only the “brightest’’ students offer answers?

 

TOC represents a systematic way to question or to ask questions— a way that encourages exploring, delving and investigating.  And, in this discovery the learner gains knowledge of concepts— deep knowledge, knowledge that s/he can use as a basis for more learning.  Isn’t this what learning is all about… building and constructing and, if necessary, tearing down and building again?

 

Socratic questioning is not just for the gifted.  Couldn’t these same questions be used for differentiating instruction in a diversified classroom?

 

Imagine the possibilities!

 

QUOTE

(2)                "Learning is finding out what you already know.  Doing is demonstrating that you know it.  Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you. We are all learners, doers and teachers." —Richard Bach

 

EDITOR’S NOTES

(3)           By Kay Buckner-Seal

 

To all of you who are planning on attending the 5th Annual TOCFE International Conference, there are many fun (and inexpensive) things to do with family and friends while you are in Detroit, Michigan, USA!

 

From June 20 through July 1, the cities of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, Canada will host the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival.  This twelve-day celebration is recognized and respected as the best festival to represent the peace, unity, freedom, and friendship shared between Canada and the United States.  The following are two events that will occur while you are in town:

 

      June 26 is Youth Night!  Some of the area's top DJs will take the stage at Hart Plaza and spin their magic.  Electronic music is one of the most popular new forms of expression, and we invite you to come and see why.

 

     June 27 is the Marshall Fields Fireworks Celebration, which will take place at the Detroit River.  This spectacular show will start at precisely 10:06 p.m. and amaze crowds of a million on both sides of the Detroit River with the largest display of pyrotechnics in North America!

 

You will certainly enjoy a visit to Detroit’s Cultural Center.  The Detroit Cultural center is home to the Detroit Institute of Arts, a magnificent museum that contains the fifth most comprehensive fine arts collection in the United States.  It also features the Children's Museum, the Museum of African-American History and the Detroit Historical Museum where you can stroll back in time through the cobble-stoned streets of "Old Detroit."  Nearby is the Detroit Science Center, which features "hands-on" exhibits ranging from experiments with optics and sound to models of some of America's space achievements, including authentic space capsules.  The Detroit Science Center's domed Omnivax Theater is popular with adults and children alike. 

 

We are looking forward to seeing you in Detroit!

 

Share your ideas with us!  Send by mail to Cheryl A. Edwards, 2253 S. Hill Island Rd., Cedarville, MI 49719, USA.  Or, send hyperlink to <redwards@sault.com> or <bucknek@earthlink.net.

 

 

CONNECTIONS

(4)  5th Annual TOCFE International Conference/First Annual

TOCFE International Student’s Conference

Cheryl A. Edwards

 

The best way to predict the future is to create it through TOC."

TOC for Education, Inc. presents the 5th Annual TOCFE International Conference and the First Annual TOCFE International Student’s Conference!

 

Date:                                June 25-28, 2001

 

Location:                                Detroit, Michigan USA

 

Hotel:                                Northfield Hilton

                        5500 Crooks Road

                        Troy, Michigan 48098

                        248. 879. 2100

The Northfield Hilton is adjacent to Interstate 75 at Crooks Road, Exit 72

 

Reservations:                                1. 800. HILTONS

                        Ask for TOC for Education’s special room rates.

                Single or Double Occupancy

Per night $139.00 U.S. + Tax (6% Michigan Sales Tax and 7% Occupancy Tax).  This rate includes breakfast for two.

 

Transportation:                                Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)

 

 

To view TACTics in its intended formatting and to read previous issues, visit the TOC website at: www.tocforeducation.com