How to Create High-Quality Learning Experiences

"High-quality learning experiences for any age learner need to be authentic, continuous, intreactive, inclusive, and learner-centered as well as relevant and owned by the learner."
-Gene Chasin, Director
Acceleraed Schools PLUS

This past semester in one of my graduate courses entitled "Technology and Educational Change", we had a guest speaker who talked to us about Accelerated Schools. She handed out some literature for us to read. I finally got around to reading some of the material and one concept that really stood out to me was the idea of Powerful Questioning that was discussed by Carol Ann Tomlinson:

"The great teacher in not one who "covers" or who "tells" or even who "entertains." The great teacher asks learners to breathe life into content by engaging with it personally, critically, and imaginatively. In other words, the great teacher is a a great question asker,... one who shows students how to think and that they can think... Asking the right question is an art. It takes practice, planning, and persistence."

Utilizing questioning techniques that are appropriate and challenging for students is critical to keeping them engaged. Different students require different levels of questions. For some students participation on even the most basic level is a step in the right direction, but other students desire and crave more critical thinking type questions which require the most of students and the goal, of course, is to build the confidence in all students to answer those types of questions. One thing, I've discovered that is really important is random questioning and not just calling on the students who raise their hand, but trying to call on students regularly so they know you may call on them. Some students also require more time to answer questions. They have to get through the initial deer in front of a headlight feeling that some experience when they get called on in a whole class setting.