Reflection Activity

Paul Collier provides a convincing proposition that compassion and enlightened self-interest are the necessary ingredients for saving the “bottom billion” on a global scale. During this 20-minute TED Talk, please reflect on the applications you can see for using TED Talks or these concepts in your classroom.

Why is Open Inquiry Important?

Open inquiry helps students become more knowledgeable about their communities and the social issues that surround those communities. Thus, open inquiry can empower individuals to become more active citizens and even influential members in their various communities.

The open inquiry process can empower individuals to make change happen in their communities. Open inquiry allows us to collectively look at some of the barriers to change, and to develop action steps to address the issues of prejudice, stereotyping and other discriminatory practices that block us from having a respectful, inclusive community. Open inquiry encourages what some call a “living democracy” – a way of life – in which citizens learn to build partnerships with people of all backgrounds and increase their own skills in creating community change (Heierbacher, 1999).

Furthermore, open inquiry can spark interest in issues otherwise not explored. Students will find social issues more interesting once they are expected to discuss them. The issues themselves are important for our youth to examine since they are what guides future discussions and policy-making. Open inquiry can help individuals to feel empowered since their voices will be heard in an equitable manner.

Additionally, open inquiry helps to promote critical-thinking skills. The subjective nature of fairness is a core issue of trust because it frames the criteria individuals use to evaluate perceptions of trustworthiness. It is also the subjective nature of fairness and social justice that entices students to engage their own resources of time and energy with broader social issues. Open inquiry builds critical thinking by building on the student’s past experiences, leading them to more reflective ways of thinking, broadening their perspectives and providing them with better sense-making frameworks.

 

 Challenges to Effective Dialogue