OQ: Interactive Open Questions

Questions in web-based training are mostly of the closed variety that has a single correct answer. In contrast, questions in the real world are mostly of the open variety that can be answered in many different acceptable ways.

While waiting for brilliant artificial-intelligence programs that will evaluate responses to essay questions, we have been working on a cheap strategy for incorporating open questions in web-based courses.

This is what you see in the OQ (Open Question) format: You are presented with an open question along with a text box. You type your answer in the text box, editing and revising it until you are happy with the results. Then you click "Send". Your answer disappears and the program asks you if you want to continue exploring the topic. If you do, you are sent to a menu page that provides various choices for you. You can take these choices in any sequence, any number of times: You can self-evaluate your answer with a scoring key. You can compare your answer with experts' answers. You can compare your answer with peer answers (other participants' answers).

None of these choices are as personalized or impressive as authoritative feedback from an instructor. In our approach to open questions, you have to process your own answer. This is difficult, but you acquire new insights and perspectives.

OQ activities for you to explore:

Facilitating Diverse Groups: A challenge in intercultural communication

Explaining HPT to Your Mom: How well do you know performance technology?