Examines the work of people who design exploratory exhibits for science museums. Discusses asking good questions, meaningful learning, design criteria from "interest experts," and four concepts about ideal learning environments which include choice in formal and informal learning, expert jargon and natural language, skills and dispositions, and…

Describes reading-comprehension technique called "Questioning the Author," which focuses on teaching students to concentrate on building understanding of the ideas in the text. Provides examples of this reading-comprehension technique in geography and history. (PKP)

Explores three questions that are considered to have difficult answers and suggests ways to explain the answers to students. (Author/YDS)

Implemented and evaluated a classroom-based research project designed to examine the impact of instruction in a question analysis strategy on the development of novice chemistry students' problem solving expertise. Results for students in 18 classrooms provide some indications that strategy instruction accompanied by strategic supports has a…

Describes the seven main components of QUEST, a cognitive model of question answering that attempts to simulate the answers adults produce when they answer different types of questions, both closed class and open class. Illustrates how the model could be applied to different types of knowledge structures, including causal networks, goal…

Tests the QUEST model of question answering in two experiments. Examines which components of QUEST could predict good answers to why-questions and how-questions in the context of short stories. Supports the validity of arc-search procedures and structural distance for both question categories. Finds only partial support for number of information…

Tests the QUEST model of question answering in naturalistic settings and in settings with complex pragmatic constraints: telephone surveys, business interactions, filmed interviews, and interviews on popular television programs. Finds that QUEST explains most of the answers in these contexts and virtually all of the answers that refer to the…

Describes the Responsive Instruction Model (RIM), a model for designing responsive instruction based on the principles of active responding, feedback, and branching. The content of the instruction is discussed, questioning techniques are described, boundaries of the content are explained, and further research needs are suggested. (23 references)…

Discusses the value of the practicum in learning reference interview techniques. Methods for offering such field experience and programs in several library schools are described, with emphasis on the practicum experience at the University of Alberta. A possible reference practicum program is outlined. (16 references) (Author/MES)

Investigated 112 four-, five-, and seven-year-olds' ability to perform competently in referential communication after training in asking categorical questions. Results indicated that children were capable of scanning a stimulus array while searching for a varied number of speaker-described targets. (RJC)

Curiosity can be developed and nurtured through application of such educational principles as the rewarding of questioning, the use of open questions, delaying answers, accepting incompleteness in existing knowledge, etc. Teaching techniques for stimulating curiosity include brain questioning, role playing, hypothesizing, and pursuing curiosity.…

Presents a practical, research-based process to help principals assist teachers in developing questioning skills. Measurable elements of effective questioning include teaching style, levels and types of questions, wait time, modeling of mental processes for answering questions, and use of transfer. Includes 20 references. (MLH)

Suggests several improvements in the reporting and investigation of child sexual abuse cases. It covers the importance of interviewing children and offers some techniques for properly doing so. The author discusses the issues of interpreting physical and behavioral signs of abuse and emphasizes the importance of accurate recordkeeping. (GLR)

Describes Usenet, an Internet service that provides access to computerized discussion groups, and examines how it can be used as a reference tool. Topics include subject groups, appropriate questions, exhausting local resources before posting, explaining Usenet to patrons, sending the question, and evaluating the answer. (AEF)

Attempts to unveil negative images portrayed by Socrates in a dialog with a boy about concepts of squares; illustrates how Socrates' manner may have confused the boy; analyzes the types of questions Socrates favored; and suggests study of this dialogue in teacher preparation programs that attempt to convey more congenial mathematics teaching. (MKR)