Educational Question of The Year Project
The purpose of this Blog project is to pose a broad and provocative question from the field of education and invite leading educators and thinkers from other fields to respond to this question in a public online forum (COPPER Blog). Cluster members and visitors to the site can also respond to the question as well as comment on the replies of invited guests. This project was inspired by the work of “The Edge World Question Center” featured in a previous post.
Listed below are some possible questions for consideration. If you have additional ideas for questions or want to comment on any of the listed items, feel free to respond in the comments area. In recommending one or more of these (or adding a question of your own), think not only of which question(s) you would like to answer, but of the responses you would most want to read.
An online poll will be created that will allow us to vote for our preferred question of the year using the proposed questions, added questions and any feedback.
The Questions:
1. You have been granted three “educational” wishes. That is, you've been provided with three opportunities to improve education. What would your three wishes be?
2. You’ve been appointed the first President of an innovative college currently in development. What educational principles or programs would guide the formation of this new institution?
3. A wealthy benefactor has given you 500 million dollars to improve the quality of education. How would you spend it?
4. What key changes do you see occurring in education in the next 10 years?
5. What knowledge or skills will students most need to be effective citizens of our world in the future?
6. What were the unique qualities of the “greatest” teacher you have ever had?
7. What were the qualities of your most powerful learning experience? Can they be applied to the academic setting?
8. Given the time and resources to learn any new subject or skill what would choose to learn and why?
9. Upon your retirement, The Chronicle of Higher Education writes a piece on your contributions as an educator. What would you want the article to say about you?
10. You are teaching a class in which you can only teach one “thing” – a concept, a bit of knowledge, or a skill. What would it be?
11. You’ve been abducted by curious aliens who want to know how the human species learns. What would you tell them?
12. What one skill that is not currently an integral part of teacher preparation would you want all teachers to acquire?
13. Other possible questions?