January
2, 2013 Mrs. J’s Musings “Happy New Year!”
The
statements in my last BLOG are listed under the title
“Elements of Thought” on page 5
in the booklet
The Art of Socratic questioning from The Foundation for
Critical Thinking. I found these elements listed in various forms on many
websites endeavoring to promote an understanding of Socratic questioning.
Here
is my short version for you to ponder.
1. Questions: Questions (Ideas)
give rise to thoughts. New thoughts generate more refined questions (ideas).
Ask questions to understand the problem, reason, or motivation behind a
question (your own or some else’s).
2. Purpose: Ask questions (of self
or others) to discover the purpose, central aim or goal of this line of
thought. Ask; “What are you trying to accomplish?”
3. Background: What background
facts, data, evidence, observations or experiences support or inform (What
conclusions were drawn?) this question? Ask for reasoning to be explained.
4. Concepts: Questions are defined
and shaped by the understanding of concepts; ask for clarification of the main
idea behind a question. Ask more questions to refine it if understanding is
flawed.
5. Assumptions: What is the question assuming or taking for granted?
What is the questioner assuming or
taking for granted?
6. Consequences: A thought begins
somewhere and goes somewhere. What are the implications and consequences that
follow from it? Ask, “What is likely to happen if……?”
7. Perspective: What is the point of view or frame of
reference for this thought? Could (should) another point of view be considered?
Importa Yes,
these questions are important for teachers to ask students; for leaders to ask
followers; for mentors to ask learners and equally
important for each of us to ask ourselves – and invite from
others - to broaden our own thinking and reasoning skills.
I am inviting Socratic dialogue stemming fro my BLOG entries
starting from December 20, 2012.
Thanks! Happy thinking!
Yours in learning,
Mrs. J
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