Questioning is an Important Intellectual Tool

“All our knowledge results from questions, which is another way of saying that questioning is our most important intellectual tool."    (Neil Postman)

A learner is by nature a questioner. If there is a drive in an individual to increase knowledge, skills or understanding it is driven by doubt, wonderment, incomprehension, puzzlement, uncertainty, recognition of a need, or curiosity. This drive is then focused through questions that the learner formulates and actively seeks to find answers to. They may be simple questions that seek clear facts, or complex questions that probe deep into concepts, beliefs and understandings. The question may provide an answer that solves the learning need or may lead to further questions as knowledge and understanding grows. It is obvious though, that however simple or complex an issue is, a good clear relevant question will be of far greater use to the learner than a question that is vague, poorly defined or irrelevant.

Thinking is central to all learning and there is no learning without thinking, but central to thinking is questioning. It is our questions that fuel and drive our thinking. If schools hold a vision or goal that goes beyond the delivery of curriculum content, and if schools want to equip pupils with the skills of learning, then it becomes obvious that a primary skill for any independent learner is the ability to ask clear, well defined and relevant questions.

Curiosity is a great blessing given to man by Allah. It is arisen through observations. When a person sees a new thing which is not known before, it is natural he wants to know about it. Many questions arise and to get the answer he asks many persons or reads the books, goes to the libraries to quest his thirst. This thing increases his knowledge. While researching his queries he finds much knowledge. This process never seems to be ceased and provides a base for accumulation of knowledge. Questioning is very common in daily life as well. When you go to a shop, for instance, to buy a laptop, many questions arise in the mind like what is the price, the model, the speed etc. These questions help you decide the purchase of the laptop. Or you have to buy a toy for your kid; the shopkeeper may ask you how old is the child? According to age he will chose the toy for child and give you many choices.

 Many orators use the questioning as a technique to attract the attention and arises the suspense in the audiences’ minds.

Interview is the other example to use the questions to get the information from a person. In journalism it is very basic and important technique. In debates and discussions question play a vital role to keep the talk go on. It is said, “Who asks more learns more”. There are many web sites and forums to get your question answered. Questioning plays an important role in keeping the learner active and busy. I have also arranged a quiz for your active participation.

Send your answer through email: profazharhussain@gmail.com

• Who is the writer of the Harry Porter?
• What is the length of Great Wall of China?
• When was John F. Kennedy born?

 

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Podcasting in Education

Stroll crossways any school campus these days and you’ll see iPods, MP3 players and other types of portable media devices everywhere you look.   These trendy gadgets have become a way of life for today’s students and a growing number of educators are starting to capitalize on it through podcasting.
Pioneering a powerful new form of online communications, podcasting for educators has become an effective way of interacting with students outside of the traditional classroom.   It enables the delivery of radio-quality content that can be listened to anytime, anywhere – even when students are not connected to a computer.   But before incorporating it into the curriculum, it’s important to exam some of the benefits of podcasting for educators and how others are already using the technology to improve and expand the education of their students.
Universities were the first to embrace the technology, handing out iPods to freshman and making podcasts of lectures.   At the K-12 level, instructors are just starting to explore the possibilities.   But podcasting isn’t just about turning classroom lectures into online audio content.   Many educators are turning PowerPoint presentations into podcasts, while others are using it to wage detailed audio explanations of frequently asked questions or as a tool for students to practice their vocabulary at home.   Students can also create their own podcasts to interact with instructors or other students.   In short, podcasting for educators adds a new dimension to teaching by making it a “cool” interactive communication between instructors and students
Parents also benefit from podcasting as it grants them to take a more active role in the children’s education.   By simply programming their personal to automatically capture school broadcasts, they can keep track of how their kids are doing in class and get the latest school announcements.
The primary benefit of podcasting for educators is quite simple.   It enables instructors to reach students through a medium that is both “cool” and a part of their regular lives. For a technology that only requires a computer, microphone and World Wide Web connection, podcasting has the capacity of advancing a student’s education beyond the classroom.   Educators need to perceive devices like iPods and other portable media devices not as distractions to learning; rather, capitalize on it and turn them into effective tools for learning.