Teachers often tell their students that there is no such thing as a bad question. It’s true of course—students should never be embarrassed to ask a question. At the same time, however, it is possible to learn to ask better questions.
Unfortunately, questioning is a skill that is not emphasized enough in classrooms. Indeed, one of the pillars of critical thinking—a set of skills that is more valuable now than ever—is the capacity to formulate and ask questions.
FORMULATING GOOD QUESTIONS
Formulating good questions requires that we hone in on an issue effectively, proactively and with confidence. Good questioning skills are among the most important strategies we can help our students cultivate, and they are closely aligned with the ideals typically expressed in schools’ mission statements. Moreover, the ability to generate and ask robust questions empowers us all as citizens in a democratic society. Our form of government, quite literally, depends on it.