Testimonial
Asking open-ended questions works
15/12/09 13:42
Help your students connect what they study
and what the Bible teaches. Ask open-ended questions.
Students say questions help them make connections
16/12/08 16:14
We want our students to make
connections. We want our students to connect
what they study and what the Bible teaches.
Question: How do open-ended questions help students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches?
Answer:
Kim Essenburg, who teaches English 10 at
Christian Academy in Japan, anchors her class in
4 questions: What’s wrong with the world? Who am
I? Who is my neighbor? What is the significance
of words? She anchors her class in these
questions because she believes that doing so
helps her students connect what they study and
what the Bible teaches.
Kim asked students to reflect on how her open-ended anchor questions helped them make connections. Says Kim, “I was encouraged to see the many different ways that students had made these questions personal, taking a personal interest in figuring out both what the Bible says and what those answers mean in their daily lives. The questions have really helped them make connections.” (See below for Kim’s students’ responses.)
Help your students make connections. Ask an open-ended question. Today.
Student responses:
(1) “What’s wrong with the world?” As sinful beings, there is so much dirt and evil within our nature that we can’t even fathom. Asking this question and learning what really is wrong with the world (we’re sinful, we’re lacking God, we’ve lost morality, etc.) awakened me in a way. We need to admit that there are problems in the world, and the only solution is God and action in reliance on God. The Holocaust was full of bitterness, hate, injustice, and so on (also the Rwanda genocide). The only way we can prevent these events from happening again is to ask God, who is love, for help.
(2) “Who am I?” helped me….We are made in the image of God, and all humans are created by God. Each and every one of us needs to…not only represent ourselves, but God as well.
(3) The question “What’s wrong with the world?” helped me. Many times in literature the characters are searching for truth and trying to escape whatever is wrong in their situations, so this question helps me connect to the Bible because the Bible tells us what exactly is wrong and how we can solve it (connecting to Christ).
(4) “Who is my neighbor?”—this question was probably the most personal. It’s something that affects us everyday. How one views his neighbor can be a big part of how he acts towards others. If we know that all humans are made in the image of God (including our neighbor), it is easier to help our neighbor. Our neighbor is anyone we are put in the position to help. Knowing they are our equal makes us feel responsible to help them and/or be kind to them. We meet our neighbors everyday; it’s not something we can escape from.
(5) I’ve thought about “What’s wrong with the world?” Before, my answer to this question was simply “sin.” I think I was able to gain a deeper knowledge of how humans are breaking shalom. Thus, I was able to connect more with the solutions that the Bible laid out. By learning specifically about how shalom is broken, I learned more about how shalom can be restored.
(6) “Who is my neighbor?” After learning about extreme suffering like the Holocaust and the 1994 Rwandan genocide, my thinking went through 3 stages:
(7) “What’s the significance of words?” probably had the most significance for me, because I was able to realize just how powerful words can be. Several Bible verses connect to this idea—John 1:1 (“In the beginning was the Word…”) and Genesis 1 both mention words as an amazing power that can bring whole universes into existence—without the Word, nothing could have been made. Jesus frequently talked about words—he says “you fool!” could put you in the danger of hell. In the past, people had focused more on direct actions, but Jesus shifted the emphasis to thoughts and speech. Finally, in Revelation 22:18-19 John says that the words he wrote were very important—no one could add or take away anything. Aside from the Bible, especially in classes like history, I’ve been able to better analyze what people say, not as absolute truth, but as an opinionated human response.
(8) “Who is my neighbor?”—this is a really big question. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves, but if I don’t know who my neighbor is, then I can’t obey Jesus. That’s why this question was helpful. It defined who my neighbor is, which is everyone because they are all created in the image of God. They deserve love, respect, and care. Through reading and studying, I realized how narrow-minded I was and how little I am. I hope to always remember to love my neighbors and maybe take concrete actions in the future.
(9) I think “Who is my neighbor?” is the…most helpful question. Sometimes I thought that only people living closer to my house or people I see in the church or school are my neighbors. However, as we read…a lot of literature and also through the Bible, I realized everyone…is my neighbor. I know that it is really hard for me to think about every neighbor and try to help them, but because God taught me to love my neighbor, I’ll try to love them as best I can.
Question: How do open-ended questions help students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches?
Kim asked students to reflect on how her open-ended anchor questions helped them make connections. Says Kim, “I was encouraged to see the many different ways that students had made these questions personal, taking a personal interest in figuring out both what the Bible says and what those answers mean in their daily lives. The questions have really helped them make connections.” (See below for Kim’s students’ responses.)
Help your students make connections. Ask an open-ended question. Today.
Student responses:
(1) “What’s wrong with the world?” As sinful beings, there is so much dirt and evil within our nature that we can’t even fathom. Asking this question and learning what really is wrong with the world (we’re sinful, we’re lacking God, we’ve lost morality, etc.) awakened me in a way. We need to admit that there are problems in the world, and the only solution is God and action in reliance on God. The Holocaust was full of bitterness, hate, injustice, and so on (also the Rwanda genocide). The only way we can prevent these events from happening again is to ask God, who is love, for help.
(2) “Who am I?” helped me….We are made in the image of God, and all humans are created by God. Each and every one of us needs to…not only represent ourselves, but God as well.
(3) The question “What’s wrong with the world?” helped me. Many times in literature the characters are searching for truth and trying to escape whatever is wrong in their situations, so this question helps me connect to the Bible because the Bible tells us what exactly is wrong and how we can solve it (connecting to Christ).
(4) “Who is my neighbor?”—this question was probably the most personal. It’s something that affects us everyday. How one views his neighbor can be a big part of how he acts towards others. If we know that all humans are made in the image of God (including our neighbor), it is easier to help our neighbor. Our neighbor is anyone we are put in the position to help. Knowing they are our equal makes us feel responsible to help them and/or be kind to them. We meet our neighbors everyday; it’s not something we can escape from.
(5) I’ve thought about “What’s wrong with the world?” Before, my answer to this question was simply “sin.” I think I was able to gain a deeper knowledge of how humans are breaking shalom. Thus, I was able to connect more with the solutions that the Bible laid out. By learning specifically about how shalom is broken, I learned more about how shalom can be restored.
(6) “Who is my neighbor?” After learning about extreme suffering like the Holocaust and the 1994 Rwandan genocide, my thinking went through 3 stages:
- How could people let this happen?
- How can I let suffering today on this extreme scale go on? What can I do to help?
- What can I do to stop suffering on a smaller, more personal level?
(7) “What’s the significance of words?” probably had the most significance for me, because I was able to realize just how powerful words can be. Several Bible verses connect to this idea—John 1:1 (“In the beginning was the Word…”) and Genesis 1 both mention words as an amazing power that can bring whole universes into existence—without the Word, nothing could have been made. Jesus frequently talked about words—he says “you fool!” could put you in the danger of hell. In the past, people had focused more on direct actions, but Jesus shifted the emphasis to thoughts and speech. Finally, in Revelation 22:18-19 John says that the words he wrote were very important—no one could add or take away anything. Aside from the Bible, especially in classes like history, I’ve been able to better analyze what people say, not as absolute truth, but as an opinionated human response.
(8) “Who is my neighbor?”—this is a really big question. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves, but if I don’t know who my neighbor is, then I can’t obey Jesus. That’s why this question was helpful. It defined who my neighbor is, which is everyone because they are all created in the image of God. They deserve love, respect, and care. Through reading and studying, I realized how narrow-minded I was and how little I am. I hope to always remember to love my neighbors and maybe take concrete actions in the future.
(9) I think “Who is my neighbor?” is the…most helpful question. Sometimes I thought that only people living closer to my house or people I see in the church or school are my neighbors. However, as we read…a lot of literature and also through the Bible, I realized everyone…is my neighbor. I know that it is really hard for me to think about every neighbor and try to help them, but because God taught me to love my neighbor, I’ll try to love them as best I can.
Use an essential question to focus instruction
28/08/08 08:09
What key question did you ask your students?
David: How does science impact society?
What were your students studying?
David: Students explored the basics of electricity with batteries and light bulbs, and they discussed how electricity impacts their lives and how their lives would be different without electricity—no electricity means no cell phone, computer, air conditioning, and refrigerators.
Then students analyzed the positive and negative ways technology has impacted our values and lifestyle. Students made good observations, including that technology has encouraged them to pursue comfort and leisure at the expense of relationships. Next, students studied Bible passages on contentment (I Timothy 6:6-10), possessions (Proverbs 23:4-5), selfishness (James 2:1-7, 15-16; 4:1-3; 5:1-6), and Moses giving up wealth (Hebrews 11:24-25).
What did your students learn?
David: I’m excited about the way kids were able to see something as simple as Play Station affects their lives and hearts, that technology has positive and negative impacts. One student said, “It’s important to be content, rather than wanting the latest technology.” Another student said as she demonstrated her blood sugar tester, “Without this device, I wouldn’t be alive…The Bible says we are not to murder, which means we are to protect life. This device protects lives.”
Using questions works!
18/04/08 14:39
I’m reading essays on my students’ favorite song lyrics—everything from the hymn “Blessed Assurance” to “Breaking the Habit” by Linkin Park to “Mr. Feather” by ELLEGARDEN, a Japanese band.
Throughout our poetry unit, I used 2 questions to help my students increase their use of a biblical perspective: “What is the significance of words?” and “What’s wrong with the world?”
They’re getting it—they’re applying a biblical perspective to their music:
- “It acknowledges that humans have an
irresistible urge to establish relationships, and
that they cannot live without one another. The
Bible confirms this truth, that humans, by their
very nature, are lonely creatures that seek company
and detest isolation.”
- “The basic truth that the writer of this song
grasps is that the human heart is dark and evil….
It is a mad, confused world, but the Bible is the
map.”
- “God also seeks justice for humanity.”
- “The Bible does have a lot to say on the topic of perseverance….So while we’re ‘driving and striving’ through life, we can rejoice in the hope of God. God uses both pleasures and hardships to help us develop character traits of endurance and determination.”
Questions helped my students see how creation points to God
09/04/08 13:16
The fifth grade science curriculum covers a broad range of topics. To focus the topics around a common theme, I ask my students, “How does God show creativity?” Depending on the topic, I customize the question, for example, How does God show creativity in the weather? in the systems in our body? in atoms?
In our weather study, students wrote: “No two things made by God are the same.” “Clouds are different in shapes, sizes, and the type of weather they bring.” “Even the way raindrops are made is creative.”
In our current health unit, which focuses on growing and changing, one student responded, “God made us with detail. Each one of us is different.”
My students are beginning to see how many ways creation points to the Creator and that there is no end to finding examples of His creativity. It is exciting to remind them that they are also creative because of a creative God!
Using questions has helped my students deepen their understanding of God and His creation. Using questions helped me teach more intentionally.
Questions helped my students apply a Biblical perspective
13/02/08 06:46
Each of my sixth grade social studies students researched an aspect of ancient Egyptian history and culture that caught their interest. Leading up to and guiding their independent research, we kept asking two key questions:
- How could a child of God have responded to the
Egyptians?
- How is this [practice] similar to or different from what we believe?
Here’s what some of my students said:
- “God provided for the Egyptians, even though
they didn’t believe in Him.”
- “The Egyptians believed there were lots of
things you had to do to get eternal life. That’s
why they made mummies. That’s not what Christians
believe; we know that it’s only through Jesus!”
- “When Joseph went into Potiphar’s house, he must have seen art work just like I studied. Maybe art would have been a good way for children of God to communicate their beliefs to the Egyptians.”
