Questions can quickly identify the level of knowledge about a particular topic about to be discussed. If the class has a good grasp of knowledge beforehand, I can direct my discussions to more advanced concepts.
I've used questions to assess where the weaknesses are in my lectures and demos. I can then clarify by re-demoing, paying attention to making surenthe language I'm using is clear.
When questioning reinforces the students self esteem rather than undermining it the class will become a better learning environment. A good rapport may develop between the students and student to teacher. Enabling the students to relay their own experiences is really important too because the questioning process helps them on a personal level and relevant to their lives.
I have found that questioning sessions can be an effective learning tool by encouraging students to use and develop critical thinking skills. Good questions involve the ability to analyse a problem, concept or skill. As the learner gains answers to these questions they build a greater understanding and real knowledge. Thinking and knowing may be two different things but questioning helps us to know as completely as possible.
Everyone uses questions/tests to see where students are in the learning process. We all want them to be where we want them to be, but it is what we are willing to do when we find those students that are behind that matters. We have to be more "personalized" to them while keeping the others from not getting bored. What a balancing act we do!
Questioning sessions help students integrating information and developing critical thinking; as learning tool may be use to span the learning experience.
Hi Laura - Thanks for your post to the forum. Exactly - questioning makes your classroom interactive and gets students involved. There is nothing worse than enduring a 1 hour un-interrupted lecture! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Dureing question and answer sessions you get feedback on the material they arent understanding.Thus you can shape your class time to cover that material more fully.
I think is very important to have the instructor and students to ask questions when lecturing - it ensures that students get the material and gets a quiet class talking and participating in the lecture.
Questioning sessions can be used to understand where each student is in their understanding of the material. If everyone is involved, it allows students to hear the information presented in different ways. What someone else says may help a struggling student understand something they didn't understand previously.
It helps you find out just how well the students are understanding the subject. We sometimes play our own version of Jeopardy. This gets all students involved in the questioning session.
Hi Lindsay - Yes, and the more questions we ask the more that we and our students will learn. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
questions are learning tools for the instructor because they allow us to understand what the students have learned thus far in the course. Also they can be learning tools for the students because they can learn/clairify what they do not kno about the subject
Hi Nancy - I love your "wondering" idea - thanks for sharing! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
What I like about using questioning in the classrom is that it allows me to see if the students understand the topic as well as allows the students to go deeper into the information and make conections that help them better understand the topic. I once learned a method called "wondering". This is where you present the information to the students and then ask questions that start with "I wonder". For example "I wonder what would happen if ....." This was a great way to get students involved in the discussion because it was a non threatening way to ask a question. By using " I wonder" you are giving them permission to wonder as well. They don't have to worry so much about being right or wrong.
By asking questions, it gives the instructor an idea as to whether or not the material is being understood and helps to reinforce. It also allows for interaction with the students to help them actively take part in the learning process.
I like to ask questions through out my lecture periods and while I am writing on the board. This lets me know if I am gettin through to them. If I get no response I will sometimes re-phrase the question until I get a response.
As the dialogue progresses, I can get a good feel for how much is being learned.
You can find the foundational knowledge that your students have. It's also good because you can then see who your shy students are and also see which students need to be more involved with the activities at hand.
Questioning sessions can be utilized as recapping and overview for the past few days to make sure everyone is on the same page.
when students are asked questions,their responses may be partially correct or even completely corresct or even totally wrong.This can be used as an opportunity to include other students by asking another student how do they feel about the question that was just posed.this gets going a debate on the question,which may lead to other questions;thus,creating a wider participation on the topic.
