Hi Christopher, Thanks for your post to the forum. One of the most memorable experiences of my undergrad days was a week-long diplomatic simulation with the class split into teams - Israelis, French, American, Palestinian etc. We learned so much! Have a great week! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I teach Political Science and often get the best reponses when I ask situation-based questions. In a policy formulation session I asked my students to imagine they have been approached by their congress person for advice on formulating a much needed policy. Suggestions flew for two days and I was amazed by the attempts to follow a policy formulation process I thought my students did not understand. A 'what would you do in this situation' approach is very effective in increasing participation in class discussions.
Hi Christella, Thanks for your post to the forum. Open ended questions do elicit much more discussion! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Jeannine, Having students come up with their own questions often tells us things that we may have missed! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Vivian, You are using a very encouraging/empathetic approach with your students - Great work! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I have previously used open-ended questions and this get the class to participate because they want other students to hear their answers and their comments.
I get students involved by asking open ended or lead in type questions. When students raise their hands I acknowledge them by name and encourage respones. Sometimes there are students who are ambivilant about answering and the say the answer out in a low tone without raising their hand. I call that person by name and acknowlege their contibution in a positive manner and encourage them to contnue.
Open ended questions seem to work best in the classroom. They tend to spark communication amoung the students and instructor
i ask them to ask me anything they want about the subject we are about to discuss..i answer it and then say my turn..
I have allowed students to question each other and create their own questions to share with the class. I think when students begin to feel comfortable with the subject and the instructor, they open up to enhanced learning.
Hi Yonne, Yes, getting students to share personal experiences relevant to the concepts at hand almost always gets discussions going! Best wishes- Susan
Susan Polick
I sometimes ask the student to relate the question to their own personal situations. There will usually be one who can relate to a personal situation. I find that other students will start to ask questions just to participate in the discussion.
Stacey, Thanks for sharing some great examples of open-ended questions.
I guess we all like to share experiences! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I definitely feel that we get the best discussions going when I begin with open-ended questions- such as, how does that make you feel?, what are your thoughts?, have you ever experienced something like this?, etc. The students seem to like their opinions and personal experiences be heard, and relate them back to the class.
Hi Angelia, Students do really enjoy relating the concepts that they are learning to the life experiences that they have had! Best wishes - Susan
Susan Polick
Hi Amy, Thanks for sharing some examples of good choices for appropriate questions based on the subject being taught. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
Having students recall a life experience is a great way to put what they are learning into real life. I give many real life experiences in my classes and the students seem to enjoy those stories. I like the idea of having the students come up with hypothetical questions to help in their learning process.
I use different questioning techniques according to the subject being taught. when teaching a class where many answers are correct, I allow many more open-ended questions and allow many more answers because there are no specific answers. A philosophy class would be an example.
In a class that requires exact precise answers to questions, I use much more direct questions and expect the precise answers. Ultrasound Physics would be such a class.
I'm with you Amy........I love the open ended questions! I will have on student respond and then another add to it and so on. It makes for good classroom study. The students get competitive with one another and keep it civil...............
We use electronic responders (clickers) in our school--this is a wonderful way of getting our students involved--keeping them engaged.
