Essential Question: A Key to Meaningful Learning & Exploration
You may have seen flyers or digital signage around Carroll’s campus talking about the Essential Question (EQ). You may be wondering—what is it?
EQ Defined
According to authors/educators Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins, Essential Questions are:
- “…questions that are not answerable with finality in a brief sentence.”
- “…to stimulate thought, to provoke inquiry, and to spark more questions.”
- “…important questions that recur throughout all our lives.”
- “…broad in scope and timeless by nature.”
In short, EQs are used to encourage community discussions and promote a deeper understanding of whatever topic the EQ pertains to. Since 2017, Carroll has embraced the Essential Question concept, creating a new question every school year.
New EQ
For 2024-25, the Carroll community was invited to once again reflect and engage with the new Essential Question: How can we build belonging at Carroll?
Like previous EQs, the latest question aligns with Carroll’s mission and the expressed interest in personal wellness by faculty, staff, and students.
Here are just a few examples of answers people submitted through the EQ form:
Learn about each other. Encourage contribution of other perspectives. Show genuine interest in students’ preferences and opinions.
Continuing to support and spotlight identity organizations like Voces Latinas, BSU, Cru Club, MSA and more.
The library builds belonging with weekly whiteboard questions, puzzles, games, and intentional conversations with students… communicating care and learning student names with every interaction.
Here are some photos showing how Carroll faculty & staff have promoted the EQ on campus:
EQ & You
“I love the idea that we have these deeper, more philosophical questions which have always existed in some form, but now they’re at the forefront,” said Carroll’s Director of ADA/Disability Support Services Joe Tatela, who helps develop and promote the EQ. “They provide a single, unifying topic or theme which the entire community can engage in or connect through, and often in creative and truly diverse ways.”
We hope this year’s Essential Question inspires you to not just think about how to build belonging here on campus, but also motivates you to positively connect with others beyond Carroll. Together, all of us are stronger!