Classroom Resources - Discussion Questions
Introduction to iFALCON Discussion Questions
Q1 Some students are familiar with the habits and understand how important they are to success. But they still choose to ignore or dismiss these practices. Why do you think this happens?
Q2 Think about your best learning experience from the past -- the class where you learned the most. Which of these habits where you practicing at the time? Why do you think your learning was so successful during that period?
Q3 We know with a high degree of certainty that the habits of mind lead to success, and assuming you want to be successful, it is in your interest to adopt them. As you integrate these new skills into your life, what do you foresee as the most significant challenges you will face? What could hinder you from integrating the habits of mind into your life? What could you do to overcome these challenges?
Q4 Of the six habits, which do you think will be easiest for you to develop? Which will
be the most difficult? Why?
FOCUS Discussion Questions
Q1 What is the difference between passive reading and active reading?
Q2 What does "academically self-disciplined" mean to you? What does that behavior look like?
Q3 What does "come to class prepared" mean to you? What does that behavior look like?
Q4 What strategy or approach do you use for taking notes during class?
Q5What are the main things you should be doing when you are studying outside of class?
ADVANCE Discussion Questions
Introduce a new concept that presents information students must know in your class. Once that information has been presented (either in a lecture, a discussion, or a chapter reading), have students answer the following questions prior to the next class. You may wish to have students write responses to each of the six questions individually; you may also wish to create expert groups, in which each group of 3-5 students focuses exclusively on one of the six skills below. Expert groups can share their responses to each question in class.
Q1 Remembering: What basic information must I know?
Q2 Understanding: How can I describe or illustrate the information to someone else?
Q3 Applying: How can I apply this information to a real-world situation or problem?
Q4 Analyzing: How can I compare or contrast this knowledge to something else? What is it similar to or different from?
Q5 Creating: What can I create to share this information with others? What solution to a problem or real-world model can I create to use this information effectively?
Q6 Evaluating: How can I use this information to judge or critique the success of someone else's
solution or model?
LINK-UP Discussion Questions
Are you sure you are aware of all of the tools and resources available at Cerritos College to help you on the path to academic excellence? These questions will help you link up to college resources. To answer them, you'll find the Cerritos College Library's "Success @ Cerritos: the ABCs of Academic Success" a helpful tool. You can find it at the following link:
Success @ Cerritos: the ABCs of Academic Success
Instructors: Have students form groups of 3 or 4. Have them introduce themselves to each other and spend 10 minutes answering the questions below together. The class will come together to share their results. (20 minutes)
You may also wish to have students answer the following questions prior to the next class. They can write responses to each of the six questions individually; or can create expert groups, in which each group of 3-5 students focuses exclusively on one of the five questions below. Expert groups can share their research and responses to each question in class.
D1 Today is your first day at Cerritos College. Where do you start?
D2 Where would you go to learn about specific academic disciplines, career opportunities, professional career technical programs, or going to a four-year university?
D3 If you are having trouble in your courses, where would you go to seek help?
D4 Where do you go to find information about a specific academic program or club?
D5 In your experience, what programs or services do you recommend to incoming students, and why?
COMPREHEND Discussion Questions
The Comprehend questions below can be used independent of the lessons; however, they draw on ideas developed in the Comprehend Mini-Lectures 1 and 2.
Q1 What is your goal in this class? How does it relate to your long-term academic and professional goals?
Q2 What are you trying to achieve in a class activity, reading or homework assignment? Be specific here; not just "success" or "an A," but what specific concept are you trying to comprehend? Is it similar to anything you already know?
Q3 What campus or class resources may best help you to comprehend the class material or the assignment most effectively?
Q4 How much time should you spend weekly on class assignments or on review before the next class?
Q5 What can you do to prioritize your studies and spend enough time on them weekly
ORGANIZE Discussion Questions
The discussion questions for the Organize activities take the form of an activity called "The Road Trip to Success." Download the full activity from the documents below. The questions asked in each step of the 5-part inventory are below.
Download this activity in Microsoft Word
Download this activity in pdf format
D1 Part 1: Where are you going?
D2 Part 2: Where are you starting from?
D3 Part 3: What courses will you need to reach your destination?
D4 Part 4: Where are the "pit stops" on your road trip?
D5 Part 5: How will you know that you are on track?
NEW IDEAS Discussion Questions
View the video "Shift Happens" on YouTube at the following address:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q
Then consider the answers to one or more of the following questions:
You can download them by clicking on one of the links below:
Download in Microsoft WordDownload in pdf format
Instructors: This is a perfect opportunity for peer groups of 3 or 4 students to answer one of the questions (with each group taking a different question) and, following discussion, to share them with the class. The class can then draw connections to the specific focus of your discipline and lesson. It's also a good place to begin ideas for an essay or other writing assignment, whether reflective or research-based (Is all information accurate? What is the more specific information available about any single idea in the video, and what are its implications for the culture/nation/global community?).
D1 How does the video address the problem of cultural or national perspective?
D2 How does the video begin to define the concept of "globalism"?
D3 What does the video tell us about education and preparation for careers?
D4 What does the video suggest about your career goals and your future in the workplace?
D5 How have our lives been changed by technology?
D6 Why is it important to be technologically savvy?
D7 What does the video communicate about us as human beings?
D8 What do we have to celebrate?
D9 What should we be worried about?
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