Questioning – A Magical Tool to Develop 21 Century Skill

Abstract

Since ancient times, questioning has been an important tool for interaction and building interpersonal skills.  Questions have led to discoveries, challenge existing beliefs, and have led to new discoveries and inventions. Questioning is important to clarify,  understand, and reinforce learning. However, it is extremely important in developing other skills too. Today much is talked about 21 Century skills; Learning skills, literacy skills, and life skills. With access to social media, information is at the fingertips of all. However, discerning between fact and opinion, fake and real is the job of the reader and in this, Critical thinking skills help.

Learning skills are Collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity. All these are interconnected and the one tool which binds them is questioning.

Questioning helps students to develop their thinking from the lower­order concrete and factual recall type to the higher­order analytical and evaluative which promotes deeper understanding.

How can teachers use this tool to help develop students’ learning skills? How can we motivate students to ask questions?

This paper attempts to answer these questions.