Questions and Failure in Learning - Special Academic Support

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Topical and Overarching Questions

Topical questions are unit-specific questions. They tend to direct the understanding of processes and thoughts inside a certain unit. An example of topical question is: How do plants carry out photosynthesis?. It can be seen that the topical question is a science-specific one.

Wiggins and McTighe (2005) described overarching questions as wide and open-ended questions that basically do not require direct or definite answers. An example of overarching question is: What does a great book mean?. It can be seen from the example that overarching questions may go beyond a particular study unit into a broader idea or scope.

The association between both questions is that topical questions tend to be relatively specific to the topic under study, however, they should be knotted to overarching questions which address wider ideas and thoughts within a field of study (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005). Both questions possess certain differences. Topical questions are unit-specific while overarching questions may exceed the unit under study. Topical questions are mostly intended to yield particular topical apprehension inside a specific unit while overarching questions may be used to yield one or more apprehensions within or outside a unit.

Intent and scope are related in the formation as well as the use of essential questions. Topical questions are important for effective understanding of the unit under study. According to Wiggins and McTighe (2005), using overarching questions alone cannot provide a link to the main course curriculum and may lead to worthless discussion or make the learning demoralizing for students. Also, in order to make learning worthwhile and straightforward, it is necessary for topical questions to be equally followed by overarching questions.

Learning from Failure

Learning theories may be described as theoretical frameworks that depict the processes of learning (Storey & Barnett, 2000). It basically shows how information is received, processed, and held in the course of learning. The process of learning collectively involves emotional, mental and environmental factors and experiences for obtaining, improving or altering an individuals perception, skills, opinions and values (Storey & Barnett, 2000). Learning theories are divided into several categories and sub-categories which include the theory of trial-and-error, which could otherwise be referred to as learning from failure (Storey & Barnett, 2000).

Several theories of learning have proved effective in the acquisition of knowledge, information and experience. This includes learning from failure. Several thinkers have given instances where failure has formed the basic step for knowledge acquisition as well as successful outcomes, result and growth. Many groundbreaking innovations were made possible by picking corrections from irregular but remarkable and great failures (Storey & Barnett, 2000).

Personally, I tend to retain knowledge more when I get a concept corrected after several mistakes or unsuccessful attempts. For instance, I was working on a practical assignment which I iteratively missed the steps in getting the expected result. The solution to the assignment was later given in class, and until today the concept of the assignment has remained vivid and fresh in my mind even though several years have passed.

Hence, an assessment strategy that would facilitate better understanding and ensure retentiveness is the one that would engage students; it must be designed in such a way that there will be room for possible mistakes. Students will then be able to learn from their mistakes when the solution is given. This way, the mistakes will be used as a strong tool in teaching and learning.

References

Storey, J. & Barnett, E. (2000). Knowledge management initiatives: Learning from failure. Journal of Knowledge Management, 4(2), 145 15.6.

Wiggins, G. & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by design (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.

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