Jacobs (1997) notes that
essential
questions are often tools for
creating clarity and precision and for
communicating pivotal parts of ideas,
subjects or disciplines. As students
problem solve, read, inquire, sift and
sort related knowledge and skills,
essential
questions become end points,
beacons to final destinations, and
landmarks marking the way.
Another definition of essential question
modified from MathStar NM is:
Questions that probe for deeper meaning
and set the stage for further questioning,
ones that foster the development of critical
thinking skills and higher order
capabilities such as problem-solving and
understanding complex systems. A good
essential question is the principal
component of designing inquiry-based
learning.
(http://mathstar.nmsu.edu/exploration1/unit/content_questions.html)
Also, on MathStar
they stress that essential questions are
�non-judgmental, open-ended, meaningful,
purposeful, emotive force with an
intellectual bite, and invite exploration
of ideas.� These are questions that ask
students to develop gauged and seasoned
opinions, ones requiring decision making
skills, or plans of attack, or courses of
action. In essence they are big
questions; they are not little questions
about factoids or facts that can be
memorized easily. They are meant to be
wrestled with, pondered, read and talked
about, as answers to these types of
questions frequently have no right
or wrong answers. Often, these are
questions that have either moral or
ethical foundations � the students will
have to take a stand and defend it in
constructing individual meaning.
Significant learning is sometimes messy
as there are many layers, many dots to
connect before the picture emerges and
becomes intelligible and clear.
Essential questions help
learners see patterns, and fit pieces of
the puzzle together. These types of
questions can also tantalize and motivate
students moving them forward into the
heart of a discipline and helping to
create an appreciation for �doing� the
work of a subject.
Essential questions are usually ones that
don�t have right or wrong answers. Some
are also existential in nature.
Examples:
-
What are the ramifications of cloning?
-
What is intelligence?
-
Are we really free?
-
Where does perception end and reality
begin?
-
Does history really repeat itself?
-
Are there any absolutes?
-
Are there other more pressing issues
that deserve consideration before space
exploration?
-
What was the greatest invention of the
20th Century?
