Questioning sessions are essential to assessing student learning. I ask questions at beginning of class to clarify a concerns about pervious lectures or assignments. The questioning continues during and after lectures to assess the learning of the students. This allows students to assess themselves and encourages further questions to clarify concerns about the lesson. This also allows other students to help other students to understand the material in ways I might not convey as easily. It is amazing to watch and unfold when done correctly.
Hi Karen, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are correct that we need to design assessments that really give us feedback on what our students actually know. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Students often worry more about the points they will receive on a test then obtaining the actual knowledge they need. Questions are an excellent learning tool for both the instructor and the student. Instead of grading an exam and applying a grade, I can actually ascertain the student’s knowledge of the concept(s) we just covered. It provides the student and myself with quick information on whether they need to review the information or do I need to review the information in a different matter for the whole class based on the responses I have received.
Hi Nancy, Thanks for your post to the forum. That's a good point - whereas testing can generally demonstrate knowledge of concepts, questioning can tease out critical thinking. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
To assist in the evaluation process and to encourage critical thinking which will be a necessity in any career field.
Hi Candace, Great question - we have all been there! I would prepare some questions that ask for personal experiences related to the topic. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I often ask questions and get blank faces and no response. I am often at a loss as to what to do next. Any suggestions?
Hi Leslie, Yes, in class questioning does exactly that! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Structured questioning in class allows evaluation of thinking skills and improve their thinking process.
Questioning will force the students to think and apply past learning experiences to the question at hand. The use of logic is often developed. Questions often lead to more questions which lead to more potential learning.
Hi Chloe, Thanks for your post to the forum. Yes, including questioning time at regular intervals is very important! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
In teaching my course, I always encourage students to ask questions throughout, but it's still very helpful to allow for questioning sessions after every subject. This allows students to feel comfortable asking questions without feeling like they're interrupting the flow of the class.
Hi Micki, That is an excellent point! We need to constantly strive to move our students to the next level. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Donna, Good example of encouraging critical thinking!
Susan Polick
This can actually enhance their critical thinking skills. If all you do is lecture, you aren't really challenging their thinking processes. In the field in which I teach, critical thinking skills will come into play on a daily basis, and if a student doesn't know how to utilize their critical thinking skills, it could be very detrimental.
I feel that this can give the instructor an idea where the student(s) might need some extra help in understanding a certain segment of the reading assignment. A good question and answer period is beneficial to the students that know the answers and those that are too shy to answer. I always tell my students that the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. Probably more than themselves would like to have the same question answered but are too shy or too afraid to ask the question.
Offering a questioning session can broaden a student's thought process about a particular issue. For instance, if my students know that we will have a Q and A session jsut before the end of class, they will use that time to better under concepts that were not clear before.
I agree - I'm currently teaching nutrition, and find that many students can recite the facts but don't really understand the application. Once I've presented all the relevant facts, I try to walk them through a practical application. For example, "You're keeping your percent of calories from fat below 35%, as recommended. Is it still possible for you to be eating too much fat? How so?"
You can find out where everyone is in the class. You will know who is getting it and who is having a hard time.
Hi Ken, As convoluted as your response may be, it is exactly how to manage questioning!! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
