Hi Anthony - Thanks for your post to the forum. You are doing a great job utilizing questioning. You check for comprehension and then move to higher order application and relevancy questions. Terrific! Best wishes- Susan
I just go back to the basics in the coarse and lead back to the harder questions
Basically the sequential questioning method is the one I use a lot. First I ask them to define the technique are skill we are learning in that Unit. Then I ask about the steps you use in doing that method, and finally I aak when they might use this in their field.
In one of my math classes this quarter, I've done a better job at having the students work on problems in class. There have even been times that I've made sure they got the right answer before they could leave class and get the in-class points. that seems to work well and helps them get ready for the tests. It also forces them to work through things, rather than me showing them the problems.
Anna Marie,
Can you give me a good example of what you do? I would like to try to incorporate some games in our class time as well.
Thanks
Strong encouragement from the instructor with each correct answer helps the class as a whole feel more confident in class participation.
Hi Tina- You are obviously comfortable in your "instructor skin" - wait time can be grueling! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Nathan - thanks for your post to the forum and a great reminder to us all. It is often easier to just write the problem on the board and solve it ourselves but in doing so we miss a real learning opportunity. Yes, it will take longer to have our students work through the problem, but they will learn by doing so! Best wishes - Susan
Hi Mark- Thanks for your post to the forum. I like that idea also! Asking students to go through the steps of a process makes them think analytically. They have to sort through the concepts and steps to produce the process. This clarifies areas which are maybe not so clear and reinforces everything that is. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Ask students questions that require questions as answers: If we are going to paint a room, what are some of the things we will need to know?
When I show the students Math problems on the board, I ask them questions that would help us all reach the final answer. That way,they don't sit there copying what I am doing on the board, but rather they are participating.
I think using the "wait technique" is very effective. Silent time is usually uncomfortable and my students have come to realize that we'll sit there in silence forever until someones answers. This has definitely helped in discussions.
Hi Laura- You are doing a great job of asking incremental questions. Your students will not feel overwhelmed when you use that approach and you nicely lead them to the answers that you are seeking. Great work! Susan
I like to use open-ended questions. I have also found it to be useful if I break the question into several smaller questions. Example: instead of asking what is listed on a Balance Sheet. I first start with a couple of questions about assets, liabilities, owner's equity, etc.
This starts them thinking in the direction we want to go with the main question of what is listed on a Balance Sheet.
One technique I have used is to have students think of one question during the lecture. Once the lecture is over, I ask them for their questions and then select some of their questions to discuss.
This forces them to listen to the lecture and also to be involved in the class discussion process.
Shelly Baker
Hi Robert- Thanks for your post to the forum. Involving students in answering other students questions also creates a "Team" feeling in your classroom. Thanks for sharing! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Katrina- Thanks for your post to the forum. Asking students to share some of their own experiences realated to the matreial you are covering puts them at ease and encourages participation. Then, as you mention, you can move on to more complex questions. Great work! Best wishes - Susan
I think it is helpful to ask questions that ask students to build connections to the material and their own life. From there, I like to transition to more sophisticated, open-ended questions.
I like to try to get other students to answer a student's question. It helps the other students reinforce their knowledge and gives the questioning student the confidence that he can understand it too.
Hi Martha - Thanks for your post! Why do you think the class participation was so great during that class last week? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
