Gifted kids love asking questions, and they love showing off their knowledge of trivia facts. They also like being able to reason in-depth, debate, and analyze cause and effect. The internet home for such thinkers in Yahoo! Answers.
Understanding Yahoo! Answers System
When people go to Yahoo! Answers, they can see questions in a variety of categories, and any registered user can answer it. There is also the option of including sources. The questioner can then choose the best answer, or the Yahoo! community can vote on the best answer. People reading the answers can vote on the quality of the question and the answers. It is a quick way to give advice, show off knowledge, and expound on areas of expertise.
Understanding Yahoo! Answers' Questions Systems
To ask a question, a user has to be registered. The question must be limited in length, and Yahoo! takes steps to avoid duplicated questions (although duplication abounds). Yahoo! helps the questioner put the query into categories, and then there is a certain time limit for how long the question is posted.
Searching Yahoo! Answers
For classes, one of the best features of Yahoo! Answers is being able to search questions based on popularity and on completion status. Most questions are asked by anonymous internet users, but there are some well-known names asking questions. Go to the Discover category and search for "Most Answers" or "Most Popular" to find interesting questions. Some highlights:
- Barack Obama asked, "How can we engage more people in the democratic process?" 17377 people answered.
- Steven Hawking asked, "How can the human race survive the next hundred years?" 25383 people answered.
- Tyra Banks asked, "What can we do to help teen girls build self-esteem, overcome insecurities, and form supportive relationships?" 7661 people answered.
- Bruce Willis asked, "What does it mean to be a "real" man?" 2069 people answered.
- Ricky Gervais asked, "Do you have to like someone to find them funny?" 2832 people answered.
- Bono asked, "What can we do to make poverty history?" 29458 people answered.
Students can find questions asked by celebrities, and answer them if they are open. If they are closed, they can read the best answer and use it as a discussion topic.
Using Bloom's Taxonomy with Yahoo! Answers
Although Bloom's Taxonomy has been modified since its original design, teachers can use either pyramid with Yahoo! Answers. Either teachers can search for question that support a level on the taxonomy, or they can give students key words to look for as they search questions. For example, asking about memorized facts would be "Knowledge"(old taxonomy) or "Remembering"(new taxonomy). The example questions above fall into the following categories:
- Barack Obama, Steven Hawking, and Bono's questions require applying, analyzing, and, in a sense, creating.
- Tyra Banks' question requires understanding and applying, and answers could stretch into analyzing.
- Bruce Willis and Ricky Gervais' questions requires understanding, analyzing, and evaluating.
Bloom's Taxonomy is a good tool to make sure gifted students are asked deeper questions that require more analysis and evaluation.
Teachers may have to create a class account or help students set up individual accounts that do not reveal information that should remain private, but once the registration issue is settled, students can dive right in to asking and answering.
Alex Sharp - Alex Sharp is a teacher who has been keeping Suite101 readers up to date with the latest in audio- and e-book gadgetry since 2008.
