The Driving Question

The driving question captures the heart of the project by providing purpose using clear and compelling language. Driving questions (also called compelling questions) pose simply stated real world dilemmas. They pose predicaments that students find interesting and actually want to answer. The question drives students to discuss, inquire, and investigate the topic. It should push them toward a production or solution. In the process of investigating the question and sharing their answers, students learn important content and skills."

from Tony Vincent at http://learninginhand.com/blog/drivingquestions

The most important thing about the driving question is that when students develop a solution to the question, they fulfill the learning goals for the unit.

For the teacher, the compelling question:

• starts and focuses the inquiry
• captures and communicates the purpose of the project
  
• reframes standards so that they are "real"
  

For the student, the compelling question:

• creates interest and a feeling of challenge
  so that even the most reluctant student thinks, "Hmmm, I guess that sounds kinda cool."
  
• guides the project work
  so that everything the students do helps them answer the question.
• helps them answer their question, "Why are we doing this?"

~from Andrew Miller

from Tony Vincent of Learning in Hand

Solve a Problem: There’s a real-world predicament with multiple solutions.

• How can we stop phantom traffic jams?
• How can we beautify the vacant lot across the street for $200?
• What’s the best way to stop the flu at our school?
• Design a better lunch menu for our school.
• Design a safe and sturdy bridge to replace one in our city.
  
  

Educational: The purpose of the project is to teach others.

• How can we teach second graders about helpful insects.
• Create a campaign to teach senior citizens how to use an iPad.
• What do the students at our school need to know about being respectful?
  
  

Convince Others: Students persuade a specified audience to do something or change their opinions.

• Create a public service announcement (PSA) that persuades teens to drink more water.
• Drive yourself to define a question and then Prove It to your classmates.
• Convince grocery shoppers to return their shopping carts.
• How can we convince our principal that we should have a party in December?
  
  

Broad Theme: The project tackles big ideas.

• What does it mean to read?
• How does conflict lead to change?
• How does math influence art?
• How do writers persuade others?
• How are good and evil depicted in different cultures?
  
  

Opinion: Students need to consider all sides of an issue in order to form and justify their opinions.

• Should pets be allowed to attend class?
• Why has a woman never been a U.S. president?
• What makes a good astronaut?
  
  

Divergent: Students make predictions about alternative timelines and scenarios.

• What if Rosa Parks gave up her seat?
• What if the world ran out of oil tomorrow?
• How might your city change if the climate became an average of 10°F warmer?
• What if the USA switched to the metric system?
  
  

Scenario-Based: Students take on a fictional role with a mission to accomplish.

• You’re a NASA engineer, and you are in charge of building a moon base. What are the ten most important things to include and why?
• Imagine that you are King George. What would you have done differently to keep American part of England?
• You are the CEO of a company that is designing a new social media app. Present a business plan to your investors that explains how your company will make money.
• You’ve been hired to revamp your local shopping mall. Come up with a plan to increase business.
• How would you spend $1,000,000 to help your community?
  
  

Scaffolded Around Framing Words: BIE has a tool to help you develop driving questions called a Tubric. It provides possible framing words, actions, audience, and purpose. If you’d rather not take the time to construct a tube, you could use Rhoni McFarlane’sDeveloping Inquiry Questions chart, Amy Mayer’s Scaffold for Writing a Driving Question, or TeachThought's PBL Cheat Sheet.

• How can I create a campaign to reduce bullying in my school? (from Rhoni McFarlane)
• How can we find a solution to reduce the litter in our school permanently? (also fromRhoni McFarlane)
• How can we as first graders create geocaching sites to promote physical fitness in our neighborhood? (from Washington Discovery Academy)

How to Refine Driving Questions

How to Write Effective Driving Questions

Driving Question Tubric

Avoiding Educationese in Compelling Questions

Compelling Questions from Tony Vincent