Crafting the Best Higher-Order Thinking Questions

Learn how to craft effective higher-order thinking questions to stimulate critical thinking and deepen understanding. Enhance learning outcomes and engagement.

Science and Psychology suggest that asking Higher Order Question promotes critical thinking levels in individuals.

What are Higher Order Questions (HOQ)?

High Order Questions are entirely different from normal questions. With normal questions, you recall and remember what you know, and answer. With HOQ, you apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information and conclude with a solid answer.

Based on three levels of Higher Order Thinking, here are some of the best higher-order questions that you can refer to or use to improve your critical thinking abilities.

Level 1: Analysis - Higher-Order Questions

  1. How does it (Problem/solution/inferences/idea) work?
  2. What causes it?
  3. Is there another cause?
  4. In what way it happened?
  5. What technique we can use?
  6. Is the data relevant?
  7. What kind of problem is this?
  8. What is the correlation between this problem and the present situation?
  9. Is there any pattern?
  10. What is irrelevant to this problem?
  11. What are the pros and cons?

Level 2: Synthesize - Higher Order Questions

  1. What is the value?
  2. How can you verify it?
  3. How do you support this response?
  4. What is the majority suggestion?
  5. What will you suggest?
  6. What choices We can make?
  7. How to prioritize the data?

Level 3: Evaluation - Higher Order Questions

  1. How to generate a plan?
  2. What happens if?
  3. What facts are verified? And, what facts are irrelevant?
  4. Where could you bring innovation?
  5. What are the alternatives?
  6. Is the answer convincing?
  7. Is it a well laid out plan?
  8. What to do when the solution fails?
  9. Why this method is suggested?

Takeaway:

By answering these HOQ, you improve your cognitive, logical, critical and strategic skills.