Hi Lawrence, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are obviously running an active learning classroom! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Im a believer in questioning students especially those that are self-directed learners as way to judge how the class is absorbing material presented. This really becomes effected towards the end of a class and I see students clock watching because they want to get out of class. Getting them reengaged helps them fight off the clock watching blues and get back in the game. This really shows the next class as I inquire on what we had learned the prior class. The retention seems to be better because I got the students talking about the subject matter.
Questioning also helps students become more interested in the topic of the day. Even if they were not that interested. I always emphasis critical thinking in class. Using questioning engages students to be better prepared for the next class (reading over assigned chapters, reviewing notes or work from the previous class) as they want to be part of the topics being taught.
I find that when I ask students open, broad questions (along the Socratic method line), they begin to ask more questions themselves. The continuation of questioning leads the students to a deeper understanding of the course material. Further, it ingrains the practice of asking questions in the students. If they can get in the habit of questioning and thinking in class, they will be more likely to do it outside of class as well.
Hi Billie Kay, Great story and an excellent suggestion! Susan
Susan Polick
I observed an English teacher teaching today and saw an interesting situation that stimulated discussion. First she had the students discuss plans for their end-of-the-mod party. One student was in charge and was taking names of volunteers and what they would bring to the party. There was some lively back and forth as the students worked out what was needed.
Then the teacher moved into a lesson or organizing their final essay. She asked a series of questions to help them remember the parts of the essay and how to put it together. At this point, the students were already energized by the discussion of the party and participated enthusiastically in the discussion of the essay. The teacher told me later that she mentions the end-of-the-mod class party on the first day of class and returns to it periodically to build enthusiasm and class cohesion. While we might not always use the topic of a party, we might take a cue from the approach of starting discussion with some high-interest topic that the whole class can relate to, such as "are reality shows" actually about reality? Then it might be easier to transition into discussing the main subjects of the class.
Hi Issy, I agree - students love to be competitive! it can be an excellent tool to use for student engagement. Susan
Susan Polick
I enjoy compiling questions during and after my lectures as I feel my students becoming very competitive with other students to answer and earn my praise, we actually create games based on answering questions.
When you ask questions, you force students to research the information and apply it through examples or other methods.We can better assess their knowledge.
Hi Jackie, Isn't it great when you get to watch that interaction in your classroom?
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I've seen my students begin asking questions of their own during classes that have led them and their classmates into greater understanding of subject matter, and, on occasion into a greater curiosity of the subject matter that is at hand.
One thing I've discovered in answering questions myself, I know more than I realized. That is self-affirming and profoundly satisfying; one of the ways that education improves self-esteem. I'm certain the students experience the same feelings, which reinforces the learning process. That is, students answer questions in class, their responses are validated and praised (hopefully), and the student feels affirmed and encouraged to continue studying.
Hi Mary, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, the point of questioning is to get as much feedback as possible! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
By asksing the students questions, I can open the door to the subject. It can also give me a general idea as to where the problems are. I am always positive with the students even though the answer is not what I am looking for. I have been in situations where students play "stump the teacher" and if I did not know the answer I have always been honest with them and told them I would check in to it.
Mary Cornelius
Hi Maryellen, Yes, as students come up with questions, they must utilize critical thinking skills which wil enhance their retention of the material.
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
By having students ask questions they themselves will open up area of discussion and thru that they may find that they already knew the answers. Thru discussions areas of study will be discusssed along with what may work for other students, and some may take that information with them and apply it to their own course of study
I love this idea. I couldn't agree more. Our program is accelerated and I think sometimes prior knowledge gets dumped prior to the advanced courses that require higher level critical thinking skills. This is such a great idea!
Excellent! I feel they like "approval" when they see the end result we have been leading them too.
Hi Lisa, Thanks for your post to the forum. Learning to motivate students through questioning is not easy but as you note, is very worthwhile! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I believe motivation is a key factor to becoming a self directed learner...therefore motivating the student to participate through questioning might be a good technique to improve this skill
I believe asking thought provolking questions may make a student look for the answer through self study and research.
