The index card question sounds like a great idea, id like to incorporate it into my end of class lecture
Hi Sandra, That strategy really illustrates the relevancy of what students are learning which almost always increases the rate of retention. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Harry, That strategy really illustrates the relevance of what students are learning - excellent! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
One way I am successful in getting students to participate in class discussions is to ask questions revolving around life experiences. I find that students are eager to share as well as listen to others speak of life experiences. It does not take long before the entire class becomes part of the discussion, asking even more questions leading to additional discussion topics. Life experiences are interesting and always generate participation.
One of the ways that I find engaging for students is to ask them if they have personal experiences that relate to the topic at hand. In the field that I am teaching in, solar energy, finding examples of how the sun effects their everday lives can be very useful for getting them to understand a broader concept.
Hi Jean, Yes, these sort of questions that require critical thinking are very productive!
Susan Polick
Hi James, I know that you will find a combination of questioning techniques that work for you. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Depending on the subject I use a "How" question. Such as, "How could you use this information to teach a patient about their disease?" Or, "How does this part impact you working ethically in your office." Something on that line of questioning sometimes brings out the best discussions.
I am new to teaching so I will have to try several types to see what works.
Hi Carrie, That's the ideal way to facilitate questioning! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
I have used open questions to draw students in and built off each answer to question other students
Hi Michelle, You may be new at teaching, but you are on the right track with questioning! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Jenny, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using some great strategies to engage students in questioning! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Although teaching is fairly new to me; I believe at times it is difficult to engage students in active participation let alone in asking them questions. Some questioning techniques I have used in the past include group presentations where the students facilitating a topic ask their fellow classmates questions. Usually this occurs after a lesson has been presented to the entire class and the group presentation is ways to help solidify and enforce the material as well as help students feel comfortable asking questions.
I have found that having the students take a minute or two to write down the questions exchange them with their classmates and have their classmates read and answer them. This helps some students who are shy to at least read the question out loud and then we can help answer it as a class.
Hi Michael, That's an excellent practice! Do you ask that of every student individually? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career.
Susan Polick
Hi Tamikah, I agree that is a very effective way to get all of our students participating.
Susan Polick
To get my students responsive to questions I make sure and ask them at the end of every day "what did you learn today"? once they know its coming they start to involve themselves...
The questioning sessions, I have used is divide the students up in groups. Have them develop a question or discussions question related to the materials we discussed on that day.
The students seem more at ease working in groups than asking questions alone.
I like to have the students demonstrate the skills they have learned and mastered, or where they have struggled and overcome problems to achieve good results.
