Good Read: What Should Educators Be Asking Themselves?

September 11, 2012 | 1:43 PM | By

Educator and prolific blogger Scott McLeod is asking for input from educators on some important guiding questions that influence a teacher’s practice. He begins with the following: “What can we do to increase the cognitive complexity of students’ day-to-day work so that they are more often doing deeper thinking and learning work?”

What would you add to the list?


I believe that guiding questions are important. As our world changes radically and rapidly, we may not have answers (yet) but we can at least try to ask the right questions.

Read more at: dangerouslyirrelevant.org

  • http://twitter.com/piersyoung Piers Young

    I suppose as per Hattie and Visible Learning “How do I know I am positively affecting each student’s learning?” (And what can I do differently if I am not?)

  • http://twitter.com/afanjoy Andrea Fanjoy

    To what extent are the following aligned: what I believe, what is most wise, and what I do?

    • Garreth Heidt

      Great points, Andrea. I’d go even deeper with one of your statements because I think too few of us question ourselves at this level: Why do I believe what I believe? Since belief presages action (I hope) checking for the evidence underpinning belief,or at least being able to form a cogent, sound and valid argument for the belief would help check the action (“What I do”) and lead to a better understand of what, exactly, wisdom entails.

  • Meredith Wolfe

    I find this post to be incredibly true to the struggles of the everyday teacher and the issues surrounding teaching and instructional design. I think that another question that should be added is how do we manage to get teachers to jump on board and at the same time not create more work for them. Our teachers are often so beaten down with the latest and greatest “fad” in education that they are continually trying to catch up. How do we push these students without weighing down our teachers? How do we reach all levels of learners with the instruction of only one teacher. This is great “food for thought” and as an educator, I think about these issues on a daily basis.

    How do we motivate teachers to think about these issues and be positive about it?

  • Isamari Cruz

    Do I know, understand, and consider my students’ learning styles and sensory preferences?

  • Jane Boarman

    We should teach children that the questions are as important as the answers. We can teach them to recognize important questions and tap into their own curiosity.