Divergent Questions
Questioning is an important strategy in the teaching/learning process. Questions are used by the teacher to check a student’s readiness to learn, to engage them in discussion, and to ascertain their ongoing understanding. Questions are used to encourage student participation and the sharing of ideas.
Divergent questions are a particular type of question used by teachers to develop a student’s capability for critical and creative thinking. Divergent questions require students to analyse, synthesise, apply and evaluate knowledge,
to clarify concepts and ideas, seek possibilities, consider alternatives and solve problems. Also known as open ended questions, divergent questions support students to engage in higher order thinking and make connections as they develop new understandings.
Some examples of divergent questions are:
- What would happen to the story if the main character made a completely different choice?
- How many different shapes can we create with 4 sides?
Within a typical classroom, students have a range of abilities and dispositions for learning that create barriers and prevent them from engaging with divergent questions. For example, students might have language barriers, experience difficulty with critical thinking, lack confidence or have limited background knowledge.
It is the task of the teacher’s then, to scaffold divergent questioning with a variety of effective supports that empower students to apply critical and creative thinking, develop their own ideas, explore concepts in innovative ways, and confidently approach problem-solving.
For example, here are some ideas for scaffolding the question:
How can natural places be protected from damage by human activity?
- Students match pictures that show instances of a natural place that has been damaged by human activity with pictures showing solutions.
- Students look at pictures, with each picture showing a way to protect the natural place, and then choose their favourite solution.
- Students read simple case studies that describe how natural places are being protected and then rate the solutions on a scale from ‘most effective’ through to ‘least effective’.
Divergent questions invite many answers and solutions and teach students to think of the various complexities and possibilities of a scenario. They enable students to develop the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary for sophisticated problem-solving.
Teachers must be well-prepared when using divergent questions to develop creative and critical thinking. Divergent questions must not be improvised, and the teacher must carefully prepare resources that enable all students to engage with the question in a meaningful way.