Questions And Answers

I have heard a version of the following for years:

Person 1: "Schools should be teaching students how to find answers."
Person 2: "No, I think schools should be teaching students how to ask better questions."

I think this debate makes little sense. Here are a few reasons why.

• Students need a foundational base of factual knowledge in order to more fluidly navigate deeper topics. So, yes, students need to learn "the answers."
• Students also need time to reflect on their understanding, identify areas for growth, and chart a logical course to better understand. Therefore, yes, students need to learn how to ask better questions.
• Focusing only on questions or answers is like teaching the difference between right and left by only focusing on one side. Think about that. It is impossible to fully understand what "left" means without having an equally deep understanding of "right." One makes no sense (and doesn't exist) without the other.
• The purpose of an education should be much more than questions and answers. It should, in my opinion, be rooted in creating knowledge - sharing what you know with others in a way that raises the collective understanding.
• Questions and answers live in the world of facts. Sharing what you know creates knowledge. Applying knowledge through life experience develops wisdom.

Living the learning lifestyle includes an appreciation for finding answers and asking questions. However, the LIVING part is about much more than that. It is about the application and sharing of your passions and experiences.

Schools should teach students to find answers. Schools should teach students how to ask better questions. Schools should also be places where students can explore, create, share, and celebrate the joy of both individual and collective discovery.