Hi Jenny- Thanks for your post to the forum. I like your idea of asking questions that are based on your students' opinions on issues. It gets them to participate and, as you mention, there are no "correct" answers! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
One technique I have used to get discussion rolling is to ask students what their opinion on an issue is. I like to do that because when discussing opinions, there is not just one correct answer. I also like to do that to see any differences that exist in students' thinking. When they discuss their opinions, they learn to broaden their perspectives simply by listening to one another.
HI Jerri - Thanks for your post to the forum. Your multiple part questions are a great way to get the whole class involved! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I like using questions that have multiple parts or answers. This way students can still respond if they only remember part. I find after the first student jumpstarts with part "A", parts B - E come in quick succession.
Hi Bill- Thanks for your post to the forum. Students usually enjoy scenario based questions. Having them relate how they would react personally is an excellent tool that will really help with retention of the relative concepts as well as the ability to use critical thinking when applying that knowledge in the workplace. Great work! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I like open ended questions as well as specific scenarios. I often use a student as an example in the scenario & then ask them how they'd react then in turn ask other students how they would have handled the same scenario
open and closed questions, closed at the end of the class
I don't sit behind a desk or table, I decrease my distance from them, use humor, wait for the answer, rephrase the question, answer the question and move on.
You are very welcome, Mark! - Susan
HI Jennifer- Thanks for your post to the forum. You are using questioning techniques very effectively which engages your students and makes for a dynamic classroom. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Mark- Thanks for your post to the forum. Setting our students at ease is so essential. Being a student in a classroom full of strangers can be really intimidating so the more comfortable we can make them feel, the better they will be able to learn. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Well first I ask both open and closed ended questions. I often use a story of my own experiences to heighten the students' interest, and then ask a question either about my experience that I just relayed to them, or better yet, ask them how my story relates to them. I also set at ease with a good deal of humor, and once they are smiling, they are much more willing to open up with questions and comments.
After asking a broad question to the class and calling on someone for the answer, I ask if the rest of the class agrees with the answer given. This opens up the opportunity for other students to voice their answer as well to the same question. Then I call on random individual students to answer a more detailed question about the topic. This method keeps the students involved with the discussion.
I try to use introductory questions to see how well the students understand material. I also try to get them in groups at times to get all ideas.
Applying the questions to everyday life.
Asking them application questions based on content they have already learned. For example, if we learned a skill in the previous week and in the current week are learning a related yet different skill or knowledge subject, I ask the students to apply their knowledge to the new scenario to help them create their own learning chain.
Some questioning techniques I have used that were sucessful ingetting students to particicpate in class dicussions are open and ended and personal.Such as How did or how would you react to that situation?
When the class gets to the point that questions are asked, I look forward to answer each one of the questions. At a point that Ifeel
I get the students to answer questions by the tables that they sit at. If they answer the question right, they get extra points. this is a great way to get them to work as a group, and to get the student that won't answer any questions to respond.
