AWT4CL 03 Ask Good Questions Badge

Author: Jama S. Coartney   --
Empowering Students Through Curiosity: Embedding the “Ask Good Questions” Badge into Your Curriculum

The ability to ask good questions can be a differentiator in the workplace. Beyond the classroom, it’s about cultivating curiosity, fostering deeper understanding, and building authentic professional relationships. Yet, despite its critical role in communication and career readiness, question-asking is often an underdeveloped skill.

Why “Asking Good Questions” Matters
Research highlights a significant disconnect in perceptions about career readiness. While students rate themselves as fairly competent at asking questions, employers and faculty often disagree. This gap points to a need for intentional instruction and practice to better develop this skill.

Asking good questions is particularly crucial in fields like agriculture, where learners frequently interact with diverse stakeholders, including farmers, specialists, and policymakers. Here, inquiry isn’t just about gathering facts; it’s about diagnosing complex problems, exploring alternative solutions, and building trust in collaborative settings.

Introducing the Ask Good Questions Digital Learning Badge

The Ask Good Questions badge is the third in a series of communication-focused digital credentials, alongside Communicate Accurately and Concisely and Listen Effectively. This badge recognizes learners who:
  • Ask thoughtful, relevant questions that promote deeper dialogue
  • Foster interpersonal connection through inquiry
  • Use questioning to enhance understanding and clarity
The Ask Good Questions Digital Learning Badge offers a structured, motivational way to integrate this skill into your curriculum. Whether you're an educator, facilitator, or workforce readiness professional, this badge provides a meaningful tool to promote reflective learning and professional growth.

By awarding this badge, instructors not only recognize technical communication ability, they also acknowledge a learner’s curiosity and intentional engagement.

Example Assignment for Earning an Ask Good Questions Badge

The example assignment below can be used in any course that features guest speakers, industry professionals, or career panels. It encourages learners to prepare in advance. This assignment prompts learners to reflect on the experience, reinforcing lifelong communication habits.

Module Part Description
Part 1: Pre-Speaker Assignment Students review a guest speaker’s bio or company background, then post 2–3 thoughtful questions to a class discussion board. To assist in preparing questions, learners should review curated resources, such as MindTools’ article on Questioning Techniques and Edutopia’s Teaching Students How to Ask Productive Questions.
Interactive Event During the live or virtual session, students should ask one of their submitted questions.
Part 2: Post-Speaker Reflection To earn the badge, learners submit a written or video reflection that includes:
• Insights on what they learned from the speaker
• An analysis of how different types of questions influenced responses
• Thoughts on how they would refine their questioning techniques in the future
Students who complete the assignment will earn a badge. 
For more details on this example assignment and badge criteria, check out the Implementation Guide. 

Why Use Digital Badges?
Digital badges are more than just symbols—they are portable, verified credentials that help learners showcase workforce-ready skills. 
  • For instructors, badges provide a clear way to signal growth and validate learning outcomes beyond grades. 
  • For students, they serve as talking points in interviews or digital portfolios, demonstrating initiative and professionalism.
Call to Action: Start Small, Aim Big
Whether you’re teaching in an agricultural program, a business course, or a career prep seminar, embedding the Ask Good Questions badge is a practical, scalable way to elevate communication instruction. Here’s your next step:

✅ Pilot this two-part activity in your course this semester.
✅ Use the resources provided to guide question development.
✅ Award the badge as both recognition and motivation.

Asking a good question can do more than spark a conversation—it can help to launch learners on their professional journey. 

Image Credits: 
Dean, S. (2018). Virginia Tech CALS [Photograph]. [Two people discussing an item in a red folder].
Untitled Photograph. (n.d.). [Five students in a video conference meeting]. Microsoft365 Stock Image.
Project Resources:
Instructor Welcome Module
AWT4CL Project Website
AWT4CL Implementation Guide - instructions and example assignments for each badge
APLU - Association of Public & Land-grant Universities Employability Skills
Badging System - AWT4CL Badgr/Canvas Credential badges, maintained by Virginia Tech 

Location: Blacksburg, VA, USA

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