by Jonathan Wade | May 24, 2017 | Blog, Discussions, Educational Development
ASKING GOOD QUESTIONS OVERVIEW
A good question is both answerable and challenging. It will inspire analysis, synthesis, interpretation, and critical thinking. Below are several types of questions and suggestions about when to use which kind.
WHERE TO BEGIN?
Begin with material students are familiar with or feel comfortable with. This might be a question that can be answered with information from general experience or from basic data in the subject area. Learn to prepare a mix of questions—those that are easily answered, slightly challenging, or highly complex—that they can draw on as the discussion develops.
TYPES OF EFFECTIVE QUESTIONS
Analysis – Questions beginning with “Why…” “How would you…” “What is …”
• Example: What is the meaning of Madame X’s comment about Jacque’s activities…?
Compare and Contrast – “Compare…” “Contrast…” “What is the difference between…” “What is the
similarity between…”
• Example: What is the difference between the mother and the father’s attitudes toward…?
Cause and Effect – “What are the causes/results of…” “What connection is there between…”
• Example: What is the cause of Lea’s distress when she looks at herself in the mirror?
Clarification – “What is meant by…” “Explain how…”
TYPES OF INEFFECTIVE QUESTIONS
Simple Yes-No – Produces little discussion and encourages guessing.
• Example: “Is the Aunt expressing a desire for Gigi to marry?”
Elliptical – Too vague; it is not clear what is being asked.
• Examples: “Well, what do you think about the Don Juan’s values?”
Leading – Conveys the expected answer.
• Example: “Don’t you think that Colette is condemning the…?”
Slanted – Closes down student who may not agree with the implied assumption.
• Example: “Why are Colette’s young women so corrupt?”
MANAGING GROUP DYNAMICS
•Decide whether to ask questions of a particular individual or the whole group. Sometimes calling on an individual may help to get a slow class going, but it can release the other students from the responsibility of formulating answers for themselves.
• Leave sufficient wait time after asking a question before answering it yourself, repeating it, rephrasing it, or adding further information. Wait at least ten to fifteen seconds before making any change in your question.
• Avoid rapid reward for responding. Rapid reward means calling immediately on the first person who indicates an answer or approving immediately of a correct response that a student has given.
For more information about this topic, please contact the Coulter Faculty Commons Educational Development Team at 227-7196.
by Jonathan Wade | Apr 7, 2017 | Blog, Educational Development, Educational Technology, Teaching with Technology
This is a good place to start if you want to know about Copyright issues right now:
by Jonathan Wade | Feb 13, 2017 | Blog, Educational Technology
Exploring 3D Printing as a Tool for Pedagogy
3D printing has been making inroads especially in engineering and K12 education for a number of years, but it has become even more compelling as the price has come down. The 3DU printing facilities in the Technology Commons at Western Carolina University opened the field to the entire campus in Fall of 2015. Much of the printing done in the space has been for personal projects and design classes.
Dr. Lily Ballofet, a new faculty member in the Department of History, saw a demonstration of the 3DU at the New Faculty Orientation in August of 2015. She later approached her department about paying for the printing of virtual topographic feature maps which gave her students a unique spatial and kinesthetic encounter with a tangible representation of the terrain. That same semester she was approached about Honors College contracts and was searching for a way to give these students a meaningful and memorable experience in completing their contracts.
With consultation and assistance from Dr. Jonathan Wade in the Coulter Faculty Commons, Dr. Ballofet decided to pursue a collaboration with the CFC, the TechnologyCommons, and the students to empower them to design and create an exhibit that would feature curated text, print, and 3D printed objects as a part of an exhibit in the McKee building. Ryan Cameron and the student staff in the 3DU helped the Honors Students find 3D appropriate and workable 3D digital files, and aided them in the process of printing those files. The Coulter Faculty Commons provided a small innovation grant to aid in the effort.
By giving the honors students the ability to choose their topics, the 3D files, the print color, and to integrate them into an exhibit presented to their peers and to the campus community, this project gave the students autonomy that allowed them to synthesize the work of others and remix it as their own creation. The honors students to experience an honors contract completion that added to their personal learning and enhanced the learning experience of their classmates.
Come and see the exhibit in the McKee building and celebrate Meso-American history and culture with Dr. Ballofet and her students.
by Jonathan Wade | Oct 27, 2016 | Blog, Educational Technology
In a continuing effort to the link technological tools and systems we already have in place to practical course activities and student learning outcomes, John Chrisman, an instructor of English, has been working with Jonathan Wade, the Senior Educational Technologist in the Coulter Faculty Commons to use Microsoft Sway, a free micro-website designer integrated into the Office365 suite, as a multi-media communication platform for his composition students. On Friday, October 28th, Chrisman and Wade will be presenting their work at a conference at UNCC.
Feel free to join us virtually by visiting the Sway below:
by Jonathan Wade | Oct 25, 2016 | Blog, Other Resources
In collaboration with the College of Engineering and Technology and the Technology Commons the Coulter Faculty Commons has one more Just in Time Learning Experience in Making available for this semester. We thank all of the members of the WCU community who participated in previous workshops.
An Introduction to Computer Aided Design
Wednesday, November 9, 8-10 am
@ the Technology Commons, Hunter Library
Bring your laptop and we will install a free software package for Computer Aided Design (CAD). Then we will use the software, called Sketchup, to design simple parts. You will learn how to prepare the designs for 3D printing. At the end of the workshop you will be able to design and print your own 3D parts.
Click here to register!
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