The Value of Questions
From the daily workings of our studios through to online meetings with prospective families, asking questions is a major component of The Wilder School. On any given day, you could record the ratio of questions to answers at easily 10-to-1, if not closer to 20-to-1. So in a world where solutions (or answers) are pursued, why would we place such a high value on asking questions?
In our studios, questions are the process through which learners explore the world. Their natural curiosity about bugs, machines, maps, and more creates a cascade of questions that we know to be the roots of inquiry. As each child dives into books and electronic resources to discover the answer to one question, it logically opens the door on yet another.
Questions are also the vehicle for children to become self-reliant, independent learners. Studio guides do not answer questions. Instead, guides use questions to redirect learners to utilize materials, peers, and their own resourcefulness to create solutions. Children in our studios discover that, with a team of peers and their own gifts, they have a diverse and abundant set of resources to engage - and with this, they become empowered to learn anything.
And possibly the most important reason we value questions is because we have found that questions are the source of in depth conversation. During our daily Socratic discussions, we ask children as young as 6 to voice their opinions and provide evidence, the process of which allows the group to learn critical listening, thinking, and thoughtful responding skills. This fosters a dialogue where learners can evaluate an issue from multiple angles to form and change their opinions through dialogue.
What kinds of questions do we ask? Some of our favorites include:
Are you more motivated by a reward, a consequence, or the satisfaction of a job well done?
Where do you think you could find (your passwords, a pencil, etc.)?
I’ve observed that you and your friend are having a rough day. What can you do to work through this challenge?
What is a goal that you want to work towards in core skills?
If you have one hour until lunch, do you find it best for you to do one activity, or split the time up for multiple activities?
Being curious creates an opportunity to learn something every day. Stay curious and keep those questions coming!