Adapting and Implementing Questioning Techniques on SI. Christoffer Nilsson Lund University, Sweden

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1 Adapting and Implementing Questioning Techniques on SI Christoffer Nilsson Lund University, Sweden

2 What is a question?

3 Virtually everything of note we learn because of one human being asks questions to another human being. Denis Brian, 1973 (as cited in Hansén and Thor, 1997, p. 9)

4 Goals of this session: To highlight why good questioning skills are one of the keys to success in collaborative learning leadership To provide a theoretical understanding of questioning techniques in a learning context To provide examples of useful questioning techniques for SI leaders to improve SI sessions and learning

5 Agenda: SI and questions The potential of well-developed questioning techniques How can questions make knowledge more tangible? What can SI leaders learn from interview techniques, e.g. in psychology, sociology, and journalism? Application and enhancement How to use these techniques in line with the SI method to boost and improve collaborative learning Comments? Questions?

6 Who am I? Journalism, communication, history Newspaper reporter SI leader and SI student Interested in language and linguistics (rhetoric, power of language, language of power)

7 Basic concept and goal of SI Collaborative learning: the group is stronger/possesses more knowledge than the individual To share and get in on other students knowledge and thinking To make own knowledge explicit and more tangible

8 Role of SI leader Basic questioning technique Highlight students own abilities and knowledge Does not answer questions directly, but helps the students to discover answers themselves Well-phrased questions Redirecting questions to students Question battery Think Time

9 Theoretical Framework SI group as an organization An organization involves a social collectivity (a group of people) in which activities (SI sessions) are coordinated in order to achieve individual and collective goals (knowledge, improved grades etc.) While coordinating these activities a degree of structure frames interactions of the group

10 Theoretical Framework Communication is essential in SI sessions What is communication? Two people (or more), in a relation/interaction, in a context/environment No time out One cannot not communicate Always meaningful: silence is also communication Transformational process: Communication changes perceptions of people and things

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12 Theoretical Framework Communication and language: constructing reality Two levels of communication: What How Contradiction = confusion

13 How can I know what I think until I see what I say?

14 I communicate, therefore I learn!

15 SI Leaders at the Department of History, Lund University 1. In what way do you think an SI leader has an effect on, and has the ability to affect, students learning through questions? 2. In what way and to what extent do you consciously use questions in order to enhance collaborative learning? 3. To what extent do you feel that you have been trained in appropriate questioning techniques? Would it be possible to teach questioning techniques in any other way? If so, how?

16 SI Leaders at the Department of History, Lund University Work virtually exclusively with questions Problematize and/or provoke Avoid role of teacher Must be very knowledgeable of the topic in order to lead the discussion through questions Shift focus Stress (overlooked) important course themes

17 SI Leaders at the Department of History, Lund University Types of questions Clarifying Critical Summarizing (and shifting focus) Helping questions (distributing speaking time)

18 SI Leaders at the Department of History, Lund University Instructions vs. Experience

19 Qualitative Interviewing Steinar Kvale ( ) Svend Brinkmann (b. 1975) Psychologists Centre of Qualitative Research, University of Aarhus, Denmark InterViews (2nd ed. 2009)

20 Interviewing as a craft Requires a repertoire of specialized skills and the exertion of personal judgment. The interviewer possesses a tool-box with special techniques and rules of thumb for their application and has a knowledge of the interview topic. The interviewer may require extended practice to become an able interviewer. (Kvale and Brinkmann, 2009, p. 85)

21 Not all about the wording Intonation of the questions Stretching of pauses Sensitive listening Establishing of good rapport

22 Aspects of Qualitative Interviews (Kvale & Brinkmann, 2009) Focused: particular themes; neither strictly structured with standardized questions, nor entirely nondirective (i.e. semi-structured) Change: may produce new insights and awareness Interpersonal Situation: knowledge is produced through interpersonal interaction Positive Experience: can be a rare and enriching experience, may obtain new insights

23 Interviewing and knowledge (Kvale/Brinkmann) Postmodern perspective: Language constructing reality Knowledge a matter of conversation between persons Knowledge actively created through questions and answers Knowledge is constituted through linguistic interaction

24 Group Dynamics Every group is unique; SI leader needs to be attentive and flexible

25 Types of Questions Introductory Follow-up Probing Specifying Structuring Funneling Second questions ACTIVE LISTENING Direct

26 Non-verbal cues Eye contact Body posture Movement Distance Gestures Facial expression Smiling Tone of voice

27 Journalistic xp How to get people to talk? Research Eye contact Silence/listen Body language ( relaxed illusion )

28 The best question in the world? How? Stressed? How? You were steamrollered, you say. How?

29 2nd best question? Keep schtum!

30 Methods and theories are like the language of the country you live in; it is nothing to brag about that you can speak it, but it is a disgrace and an inconvenience if you cannot. C. Wright Mills (as cited in Kvale and Brinkmann, 2009, p. 85)

31 Self-criticism Types of questions? Open-ended? Leading? Too many questions? Too few? How am I asking? (non-verbal cues) How affect discussion and learning? Actively listening to students? Strengths? Weaknesses?

32 What is a question?

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