Create Confident Researchers by Teaching Them to Ask Their Own Questions

Question-building is an important component of the historical process; it helps us design our research goals and subsequent actions. It’s also a skill that can be deliberately taught and strengthened. Knowing how to formulate questions will guide your constituents' research, whether they are college students writing research papers, K-12 students studying world history, or clients who want to dig deeply into a historical past. The Question Formulation Technique (QFT) is a simple but rigorous step-by-step process through which learners produce, improve, and pursue their own questions. In this active, hands-on session, participants will be introduced to the QFT and how they can facilitate it in their own work with students and/or clients to drive their research. Participants in this session will learn how to create a question-driven learning environment by understanding how questions set the stage for exciting and engaging inquiry. We will practice combining the QFT with historical primary sources and other compelling subjects as well as explore different kinds of questions, how to use them to narrow topics or broaden searches, and to assess learning. Participants will observe real examples of QFT application in a classroom and library; and together, we will brainstorm additional uses with students, adult groups, clients, and colleagues. Ultimately, this session will demonstrate that the QFT can be used whenever there is an information need to be identified and researched. Participants will leave with resources to apply this simple strategy immediately in their classroom/learning setting.