The Role of Questions in Teaching Thinking

Thinking begins with questions.  It is through deep questions that ask beyond the surface superficial "fact" that thinking can begin.  Formulating questions, and ever asking questions keeps the mind sharp.  Unfortunately, many minds in fact-driven classrooms are being slowly dulled through the concept of the right answer.
Asking questions is in itself an exercise in thinking.  To think of all the questions one has about a topic, and then to think of all the questions that each one of those questions generates builds a whole curriculum and a way of understanding and engaging solutions to problems.  Answers, or the "right answer" often are thought-stopping processes that end discussions in dulled classrooms. Deep questions drive our thoughts and our curiosities, inciting creative solutions and ideas about the questions.  Many kinds of questions should be asked.

Questions about information
Questions about interpretation
Questions about purpose
Questions about implication
Questions about point-of-view
Questions of relevance
Questions of accuracy
Questions of precision
Questions of consistency
Questions of logic

These kinds of questions can wake up sleepy minds and get them used to again thinking, and learning, and communicating.

References

1. Never-Ending Story, Galas, C., http://www.cathleengalas.com/papers/9ISTEL&LNeverEndingStoryApril99.pdf
2. http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/the-role-of-questions-in-teaching-thinking-and-learning/524
3.