Reinforcing the 21st century pedagogical skills through the application of the question formulation technique (QFT) in secondary schools in south eastern region of Kenya

Abstract

Studies show that only 27% of graduates believe that Universities and colleges taught them how to ask their own questions. The Question Formulation Technique (QFT) imparts students a way that makes them to think critically every time they read, connect the concepts and when deciding whether to take facts and information at face value or to dig a little deeper. Generally, it is reported that students ask less than a fifth of the questions teachers estimated would be elicited and deemed desirable Poor participation by students in the questioning during teaching and learning process has often led to poor learning outcomes which are manifested by poor performance in academics. The study was instituted to evaluate the equipping of 21st skills to secondary schools’ students using QFT trained teachers in ten schools in the South Eastern Region of Kenya. The teachers and students were trained to develop skills in producing of questions, categorizing questions, prioritizing questions and in reflections. The study found that teachers were eager to be trained in QFT skills so as to enhance an observed low student engagement and poor performance. The assessment of the implementation of QFT in content delivery found that students had many questions to ask if given opportunity and not judged during the teaching and learning process. The analysis of the questions showed that the QFT sparked student’s potentials into divergent, convergent and metacognition types of thinking during and after the teaching and learning process. The teachers had a challenge of focusing the student class questions to achieve the lesson objectives in the stipulated time of the lesson. However, online engagement of students with teacher was observed to be a key in spurring more learners’ curiosity in learning and in developing patterns in their thinking and ask questions and facilitate lifelong learning.