Questioning Techniques
What are some questioning techniques you have used that were successful in getting students to participate in class discussions?
I tend to have some easily answerable questions for the students at first. Then I like to have them build off those questions. It is ahrder though in an online setting because you have one standard question and students tend to answer that question, but not dig any deeper. That is when I ask them a further clarification or further knowledge question based on their initial post.
I tend to do the same thing for a fashion history class. I even ask them to open their books to the chapter we did in the last class so they can get refreshed on the material. I may take it beyond the last chapter and ask how the last two chapters differ. I have visual learners on a whole so I want to lead into an activity where they can put the info in front of them
I also vary the difficulty of the questions. In doing so & observing student posturing, I can draw those with greater comprehension issues into the subject matter by allowing that individual to answer, thereby creating a positive motivational experience for that individual. Eventually, towards the end of the course, I have noticed that the barriers have diminished & an open accepted environment between the levels of intelligentsia exist. Information passed at that level seems to have a significant impact as people tend to accept information more readily from their peers that the stranger at the front of the room. (Imagine that
what i do is read the slide than turn it into a question
I do the same thing if a reading assignment was assigned. I also like to take the first few minutes of class to discuss some questions from the class before. Just a refresher, I continue this threw the whole course and like to pop quizzes here and there.
I like to open the discussion by first asking if anyone has any first impressions on that week's reading. Then, I will ask more specific questions following.
