Hi Ryan, Students really do enjoy using games in the classroom - actually I do as well! Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Christopher, When we can facilitate lively discussion in class, it really can get exciting! Susan
Susan Polick
I ask my students questions to keep them focused on the subject at hand.
In math it seems to be more direct instruction orientated. I will ask a student: "What step comes next?" to engage the class and practice the concepts.
I personally use powerpoint games like Jeopardy and make it a game. Another technique would be to have students write some of the exam questions I could pull from for the final.
I have found that when a student can add information to what a fellow student has already offered...then another.. really makes the class enjoyable
Hi Christopher, Thanks for your post to the forum. Questioning skills is one of the most difficult parts of teaching! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Edward, Thanks for your post to the forum. I also teach Leadership and liked your suggestions! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I found using open-ended questions then asking the class to expound on a students answer really opens the class up for great participation
Set up a pole with a broad question and then anonymously determine the answer. After choosing an answer determine the most frequent answer for the question. Then try to determine the why of the question given the circumstance. For example the following multiple choice question might have answers as follows. "What is the best style of leadership?" The broad answers might be Controlling, Team oriented, Detailed rule abider. Then we could ask questions about the circumstance the employee types etc. to raise participation.
Overhead, direct, rhetorical, and relay questions.
Hi Kathy, Thanks for your post to the forum. You shared some good ideas to encourage active learning! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Melissa, Great ways to get feedback during demos! Susan
Susan Polick
Open ended questions are always better choices then close ended questions because students explore or share more knowledge. In Open ended questions students have more chances of interaction that can create long term memory by using a few examples.
In my Human Relations class I will often start a new topic with brain storming. I find that this gets my students thinking, then I will start asking questions based on their ideas and where I am trying to lead the discussion.
When I have discussion time with my students I like to keep the environment casual because I find that it allows for more student participation. I will usually demo haircuts for students before they, themselves do the cuts and while this is going on I ask,"Why am I positioning my body like this?" What happens if I move my hands like this?" When its not me staring at the students I get more responses which generally leads to more questions.
Giving the students the chance to be creative on a group projects or activities will raise more challenging questions and answers for them, and it will help to make sure that the students have a better understanding of the material.
Hi Yolanda - Thanks for your post to the forum. That's a great idea because students will actually retain more by developing those questions. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Teaching in the Trades, I find that if I turn the question back around to get them on the correct thinking process, they will answer their own question.
i let the students make up questions to ask me, so that they not only participate but to see what all they absorbed
