TWO+-+Accelerating+Curiosity

= Accelerating Curiousity and Agency =

**Descriptor**
Curiousity is an important trait of a genius. It is a common trait in all intellectual giants in every field. Questions focuses our thinking, provides a drive to know new things, and fires up the neuroplasticity of the brain - the forming of new neural connections essential for learning all disciplines of human study. Curious people always ask questions - their minds are always active, investigating, exploring, wondering, inquiring AND learning. Asking questions is the A-B-C of thinking, creativity, engagement of attention, and problem-solving while making sense of the world – significant 21st century skills. The art of questioning should be considered the CORE technology that will serve us all in mighty ways as life-time learners. This session will rehearse strategies that fortify participants present work in encouraging students to become serial questioners committed to pursuing important questions until capable of making sense of their worlds and capable of fashioning smart answers to life’s challenges.

**Driving Questions**
√ Appreciate the power of questions as a core technology for learning √ Capacity for coding for “closed / fact-based” and “open / reasoning-thinking” questions √ Capacity for coaching fact-based questions into reasoning/thinking questions √ Using Rubric for Depth of Questions Spectrum √ Generating and practicing ideas for cultivating student-driven curious cultures √ Generating and practicing ideas for cultivating student-driven agency - Self-Directed Learning Spaces

**Agenda Topics**
√ Creating a Culture of Curiosity
 * Carousel Brainstorming
 * Question Quiz: How well do you know the facts about the use of questions in classrooms
 * Reflecting on role of questions in learning environments and tasks
 * Would you consider Curiosity and Creativity Cousins or NOT?
 * Rate your own curiosity IQ • Rate your creativity IQ
 * What is the role of IQ in determining success?
 * What does research say about curiosity changing or not the chemistry of brain?
 * How might curiosity change the emotional / learning state of a student?

√ All Questions are NOT Equal • Fermi challenge questions • Introduction to the Question Spectrum • Coding Questions from Carousel Brainstorming • Sorting Practice for Closed (Fact-based) and Open (Reasoning-Thinking) Questions

√ Coaching Closed or Fact-based Questions into “H.E.A.T.-ed” Territory • Introducing the Power of So What? Using Question STEMS to “H.E.A.T.” up questions • Coding Practice with Question Press and/or FlipChart Containers • Practicing Driving Questions Collect ideas, activities, and strategies for creating curiosity and cultivating student-driven learning

Closing Review ideas, activities and strategies collected from Today's Teams • creating a culture of curiosity • cultivating student-driven learning

Share ONE idea or strategy you want to implement from today's concepts with your school this year - ASAP!

Group Learning Tools and Links

 * Give Me an "E" OverView a la CoachingHEAT Wiki
 * Brainstorming w/ CorkBoard.Me (YouTube Using w/ Students)
 * Learning Lab 2 - Sorting Questions
 * Think-Tanking for Rigor Generating and Reflecting on Ideas
 * Think-Tanking w/ ietherpad.com
 * A Questioning Toolkit from Jamie McKenzie
 * Questioning Articles from Jamie McKenzie's Questioning website
 * CorkboardMe - Shareable sticky notes web-app
 * TodaysMeet - Encourage "the room" to make comments and questions
 * Lesson Concept - []