If the text book contains the answers, then what are the questions? (Wiggins & McTighe, p. 125)

The above quote is a brain tickler, because it seems straightforward until you actually begin to think about it. What are the questions? And who says that the text book contains the answers?

Ever since we were introduced to essential questions last semester, I have been enamoured of them (so much so that I must use the English spelling of the word 'enamoured'). I love the idea of asking questions that cannot necessarily be completely answered. This is exactly why I do not believe that text books contain all of the answers, and why it is vital for teachers to venture out of the text book for ideas and information.

Why do we need to develop essential questions? There are many reasons that could be developed (hmm, that may be an essential question in-and-of-itself), but the one that makes the most sense to me, at this point, is this: in order for the 'answers' in the text books to attain any sense in the greater world, they must be put into context of something larger than a page in a book. How do the 'answers' in the text book affect us here and now? Why do we need to think about larger implications of local and world-wide events? Why does it matter that we learn these 'answers'?

In order for teachers to move beyond the answers in the text book, they must be willing to step out of the text-book-comfort-zone and ask some essential questions. The students may not be able to answer them, but even the consideration of essential questions is a step in the right direction of meaningful learning.

Why do we need to develop essential questions? Why, indeed.