The Art of Questioning: A Basis for Decision Making

Audience: Primary Years Programme
Audience: Middle Years Programme
Audience: Diploma Programme
Audience: Research
Audience: General Interest
Session: Block 2: Friday 2:00 to 3:15, Room: Pacific L

All educational philosophies, including the IB Learner Profile, lay claim to teaching critical thinking, and yet students and teachers continue to make faulty choices in their daily lives. Perhaps this is because too often, thinking remains only a mental exercise as the "critical" portion is ignored. This workshop suggests that the heart of critical thinking is the ability to ask probing questions in separating fact from fiction and in foreseeing future consequences of our actions. As the school is a microcosm of global society, the art of proper questioning becomes essential for life.


Jerry Chris, Diploma Programme Coordinator, Mission Viejo High School

Jerry Chris, Ed.D., is the author of seven educational books and two novels. He has been the Diploma Programme Coordinator and Theory of Knowledge Teacher at Mission Viejo High School since 1985. He also serves as a site visitor and TOK trainer. He has presented workshops on Socratic Seminar and critical thinking to eacher training institutes throughout North America. Among his many awards are California (GATE) Teacher of the Year, Creative Challenge County Teacher of the Year, and the Crystal Apple from NBC. In 2004, he was granted California's "Award of Recognition" for a career of dedication to gifted education.