I use real life examples that are related to the material and ask the students questions to help them apply the concepts learned in class to the example.
Hi Matt- Thanks for your post to the forum. You are encouraging your students to use critical thinking skills which will be very valuable in their futures. Best wishes- Susan
Asking them to read statements and tell if they believe if the statement to be true or false. Usually leads to discussion from several students, I will ask why the students believe this way or that way.
Generally leads to good discussion focused on the students personal situation and experience.
We use the discussion to introduce a topic.
I like to use open ended questions to insure the student opens up. Closed ended questions requiring a yes or no answer does not give me enough information to insure the student knows the subject matter.
Some questions that I have found to be successful in school would be open-ended questions and "what-if's" questions. This employs the student's critical thinking processes and enables me to find out about the thinking of the student.
good to get students involved.
HI Jimly- Thanks for your post to the forum. Students do indeed enjoy relating the concepts at hand to their own experiences. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Jody - Thanks for your post to the forum. As you mention, it is much more comfortable for students to answer questions about which they have personal experience. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I try to get them to relate of topic to a personal situation, or have them comment on anothers response.
Asking the students questions about the topic that they can relate to their personal experiences
Hi Lixsa- Thanks for your post to the forum. I liked your idea of having the questions in a basket as every student knows that every day they will be called upon. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I really like that idea and I'm going to use it next week. Students will be listening to the lecture/discussion in a different way because they'll be listening for the answer to their specific question.
I, agree. Sometimes I prepare questions ahead time and put them in a basket and have them pull a question from the basket. That way everyone has a question to answer and they feel comfortable answering because they learn the answer as the lecture continues.
HI Bill - Thanks for your post to the forum with some excellent advice. I think this is a point that we should really emphasize with our students. They will do a diservice to their employer/clients if they pretend to know an answer when they don't. There is no shame in saying "I'll find the answer and get back to you asap!" Best wishes - Susan
Asking questions related to job experience.
Hi Abigail- Our writing instructors work with the techical of business faculty to deign writing assignments that relate to what students will be doing in their career fields. The students almost always find that it makes good writing relevant. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
I had a good chuckle regarding the advise about what an instructor should do if asked a questions and they do not know the answer. I admit that and suggest that it might be a great topic for further inquiry, perhaps as a topic a student might use as a research project at the end of the course. sometimes I pause and go to the internet and look things up or suggest that the student who asked the question do so. My chuckle is that I often get feedback from students saying that "Mr. Browning said he did not know the answer to a question." I don't consider not knowing a crime and I tell students that they should not expect an instructor to know everything. After all, we work and teach in fields that are constantly changing. In my opinion, any instructor who knows everything is blowing some smoke.
I find that constant questioning and interaction during my demos can really get the students going. Once they have warmed up and are talkative, we can have a more open and interactive discussion.
I teach a writing class, and am considering how to use these real-life scenario questions in my teaching. I think students would really respond to understanding that good writing isn't just for the classroom!
I also find scenario questions quite engaging
