As an old, well, coot, there are some of the latest fads and fashions in education about which I am more than somewhat skeptical. Questioning, however, is definitely not one of them. In a lot of cases, IT does not promote the Socratic Method [there is just so much 'there' there], but asking questions is important, as is inculcating the attitude of disciplined skepticism that questioning can promote.
There are however, some drawbacks and issues, which make questioning less attractive as a teaching device in my specific situation. The first, to which I suspect most teachers covering modern technological materials will readily agree, is simply the sheer mass of material which must be covered in every class session. It is not infrequent that before stepping into what is a carefully tailored class session that there will be some important material discovered *just earlier in the day* that I feel the class must know. This means that the time available for questioning is reduced in consequence.
I see no way out of this.
The second issue with questioning is a use which I did not see have much impact in the module. The fact is, in IT classes [and I am sure that IT classes are not alone in this aspect], many classes build upon precedent classes [so, for example, enterprise networking builds upon an understanding of network fundamentals]. One of the key uses for questioning in many of my classes is simply to determine how much of the precedent knowledge has been retained, so I do not have to take time in covering it all over again, when, as I have indicated, time is in short supply in any case.
The vast majority of our students have the ability to forget what they have learned which almost excites my admiration. I like to joke that there is a 'forgetting field' in the doorway of the classroom that erases all memory of what went on in the immediately previous class session. And I diagnose this through implemening precedent questions -- which almost to a man, the class does not know, even though in many cases, I taught these same students the precedent class myself....
So then we have a brief review, and I remind the students of the importance of using their class knowledge as building blocks for professional success, and inwardly I sigh a little.
Hi David, It's good for students to see that often their classmates have the same questions that the have. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Question sessions can generate discussions that otherwise wouldn't be available to the students in just a lecture setting. Here students can interact with each other and get to information that they might have not come across with had there not being the questions.
By questioning students it can help them to participate in discussion, help them to think and bringing up their knowledge to answer the questions
It can be used to check whether students grasped the concepts.It also encourages active participation and interest from students.
It can be used to check whether students grasped the concepts.It also encourages active participation and interest from students.
Hi -Carrette, Thanks for your post to the forum. Our new instructors often tell us that leaning to use questioning effectively is difficult, but, once mastered, they really see the value. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Susan Polick
Using questioning as a leaching learning tool is an art. As instructor we need to master that art. We live in a society/era where too many people tend to react to feelings rather that critically thinking about a situation. Properly structured thought provoking questions have the capability to stimulate students' thought processes and get then to conscientiously think critically about a situation.
Some questions will be impromptu but instructors need to prep their questions in order to obtain the desired result.
I agree!! Often students have the most insightful questions because they are often viewing the material from a different perspective.
Hi Tracey, Thanks for your post to the forum. Pre-test questioning serves to prepare students for the impending test. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I like to use questioning sessions the day before a test in order to review important information for the exam.
Hi Tamika, That is a very interactive, and less threatening approach to questioning!
Susan Polick
Hi Anne, Our new faculty often tell me that learning to question effectively is one of the most difficult parts of instruction.
Susan Polick
One strategy I like to use are question cards. A series of pre-selected questions are created at the end of lecture or for the next day as review. Students each get to pick a question out of a box and read out loud. The class as a whole comes up with possible solutions. Great tool for shy students
I teach mostly studio type courses and this discussion makes me realize including good questions is very important to this learning environment. I have always asked questions because I encourage students to think critically but never really understood the characteritics of good questions.
Hi Jan, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, the feedback we get from effective questioning is essential to help us direct our instruction. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
During a question session, we can find out the level of understanding on the subject of the students. Based on that information, we can provide futher clarification to the students and also allow other students who have better understanding of the subject to expound on the subject. In addition, a questioning session can provide the class the opportunity to engage themselves in collaborative learning.
Hi Ricky, Thanks for your post to the forum. So often they all have the same questions. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
When the questions start coming, it will draw more students into the disscussion, especially when the hear a question being asked that they were thinking about, but did not have the courage to do so.
Asking questions helps to get a bearing on where the students are in their studies, or if they are properly digesting the material.
