Hi Gary, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, questions that have no clearly "right" answers certainly keep the conversations moving. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
What are some questioning techniques you have used that were successful in getting students to participate in class discussions?
I prefer to use students with life experiences related to the lesson topic to break the ice and get the class discussing their thoughts or experiences with the topic. When that isn't a possibility, I prefer to ask a student what they understand about the topic and then help them find a possible application based on the content of the course.
I will ask open ended questions to encourage student participation. In my experience, students discuss with one another what their thoughts and opinions are. It fosters a collaborative learning environment, it also establishes trust among peers in and out of the classroom.
I always tell a life experience story. then I start off with why they are choosing this career path? (Dental Assistant)
I totally agree that students really relate to true life experiences and it sparks their interest
Hi Edwin, Thanks for sharing a great example of engaging students in your classroom! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
The answer to the question is to make the students comfortable as if you were at an informal event, at the same time keeping the group focused and on task.
I find that if I use my students as examples in my lectures it makes them want to participate because they are a part of what is going on. It will also make the students that I am not using want to participate in hopes they too will be picked to be a part of the lecture.
Hi Linda, Thanks for your post to the forum. I like your idea of a "daily question". It will certainly spark student curiosity and interest! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Another creative method is to also have a question on the board that the students are allowed to look at throughout the day or class period. This gives them time to reflect on a question and formulate good answers at the end of the class for discussion.
Hi Joseph, Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree, students (and instructors!) do seem to enjoy playing games as they learn. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
The easiest way to get students to participate is to make it fun. Sometimes making it a competition can help, Jeopardy style formats are great, and you can turn them into a teams to help those that are shy.
Hi Angela, Thanks for your post to the forum. You shared an ide way to conduct questioning. Using open ended questions can really get the conversation moving. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I try to ask questions that are simple and relate to the lecture they may have just had in class. Because I have a small class it's important that they all get the opportunity to answer questions. I also try to build upon the questions that I ask to continue a discussion with the students and assist them in feeling comfortable asking other questions that pertain to the lesson at hand.
Hi Michael, Thanks for your post to the forum. I agree - when we use scenarios in our classes, we demonstrate the relevance of what we are teaching. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Angie, Thanks for your post to the forum. I find that students of all ages enjoy classroom activities that get them up and moving. It's a sure way to get students engaged! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Donna, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, it is so important to punctuate lectures with questioning. When we plow through lectures without checking for understanding, we risk having students who are "lost"! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
If when I ask if there are any questions or comments after lecture there is no response then I will ask a question about a certain point in the lecture to get the students more involved so that I know if they have received the content of the lecture.
I try to relate questions to every day scenarios.
We try use of questions on a beach ball and the ball is bounced around to students. Once the ball is caught they have to answer the question where the students right hand lands. If they do not know the answer, the ball can then be passed to the student that was able to answer the question. I think getting the class involved keeps the students involved and learning. I have seen many relationships form through classroom discussions and activities.
We have stopping points during lecture where students use clickers to answer questions from the material just covered. If everyone knows and understood the information by answering correctly, we move on. If any student clicks in the wrong answer to a question, we stay on topic and verbally ask questions for understanding.
