Word bank for beliefs & values

Verbs for Cognition	Synonyms for Beliefs	& Values
assess appraise evaluate estimate decide appreciate admire know connect	view sentiment opinion persuasion position judgment conclusion inference theory	worth merit usefulness premise benefits assumptions importance consequence significance
Let's say you want to ask a question that will cause reflection about beliefs & values Choose any verb from the list above to invite a specific cognitive process Now select one or more of the synonyms for beliefs or values and design a question using both		Here are some examples: "How might you diecide the worth of that activity?" "As you assess the importance of that strategy, what theories are guiding you?" "Which assumptions seem to have the greatest merit?"

Anatomy of a Mediative Question:

1.  It is open ended, allowing for many possible answers.  Plural form facilitates this intention; goals instead of goal, causes instead of cause.

2.  It conveys positive presuppositions about the respondent. "As an experienced teacher...what might you....?"

3.  It is judgment-free.

4.  It uses language that is tentative and explorative. "how might you....", "What are some possible ways..."

5.  It is spoken with an approachable voice, signaling inquiry.

6.  It invites thinking to one of three levels:

• knowledge,
• comprehension-analysis-synthesis or
• application-evaluation

Costa called these input, process, and output

7.  It is linked to states of mind and the cognitive style of the respondent

8.  It crosses categories. "As you consider alternatives, what seems most promising?"

9.  It has three important dimensions:

• a preparation for questioning,
• an elicitation of specific cognitive processes and
• a focusing thinking stage.

Developing Questioning Fluency

Question Stems	Cognitive Processes	Focus
As you...	Recall	Internal
What are some of ...	Compare	Personal Reaction
How might you...	Predict	Personal Feelings
How did you...	Infer	Personal Values
What led to...	Know	Personal Assumptions
What possible...	Analyze	External
What might...	Envision	Behavior, event, lesson, meeting, committee
Question Stems: In column 1, delivered as invitations to question, signal the mind that a friendly questions is coming	The 2nd column asks the respondent to perform a specific cognitive function	The 3rd column represents some possible focuses-for the question -either toward the participant's internal experience or toward external stimuli

Select from column 1, any question stem, linking it with one of the cognitive processes in the second column and then with a specific focus in the third column.  Mediative questions can be framed in this fashion in any order.


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