Get Your Students Hired
Students will have an opportunity to ask questions in a group setting. Many students will have the same question and some may ask them and some may not. If you have sessions students will get answers to questions they may have that they were afraid to ask. If students see a positive response to others who ask questions they may be more apt to step up and ask a question of their own.
Questioning sessions can be used as learning tools because the instructor can ask questions about the major points of a lesson or unit. By discussing these major points, students are able to review what they have learned so far. Students can expand on this knowledge by applying the information to their own lives by discussing how they could use this information in their career, etc. Further questioning can bring higher order learning skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Bloom advocates these higher level skill sets because students process the knowledge and evaluate the information often making new connections and discovering new ways to apply the knowledge in their lives.
Hi Carol - Such a simple question but it helps the students to think about what they learned and in relating it back to you fixes it more firmly in their memory. Great idea! Best wishes - Susan
Hi Rhonda - thanks for your post to the forum. As students formulate answers to questions, as you point out, they have to use a thinking process that forces then to recall what they have learned and synthesize it to provide an answer. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Questioning sessions can be used for the instructor to analyze what the students understand. And for the students it's a good learning tool because it gets them involved in the discussion and thinking process.
Hi, John. You are right; if you probe the minds of students, you will be delighted with the participation. Most students want to speak up and become involved. If they are initially shy, but encouraged through positive feedback by peers and the facilitator, students will step up, and more discussion results.
Questioning sessions are used as learning tools to review the objectives of the day. They allow for insight on who knows what, who is prepared, and what still needs to be covered or explained. I like to ask each student, at the end of the class, this question, "What did you learn today?" Surprisingly, you may discover that the main points stuck, as the students highlight them.
HI Jim - Welcome to ED 103 and thanks for your post to the forum! I agree, every class is different, which is why we have to be constantly changing our game. Keeps it interesting - Yes? Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
I use questioning to find out if they can troubleshoot equipment and solve problems from the basics that they have learned. Classes are all different in personality, some will respond without any problem and others don't want to say a word.
I use questions to see where my students are also I use crossword puzzlesto make them think about the lecture and rereview all the material
Hi Vincent-Thanks for your post to the forum. Giving your students the opportunity to produce a correct answer as long as they are paying attention can be a real esteem booster! Best wishes- Susan
I use questions that pertain to the slide on the powerpoint. The answer is there! It gives me the feeling they are following along and it seems to re-enforce the subject.
Questioning sessions allow students who may not be fully engaged in the content, think about the material and thus aid them in learning, especially when they are asked to come up with a certain number of queries. The reiteration of content aids greatly in helping them remember the material and cuts down on personal study time (something that busy college students are thankful for).
For the student it provides support and comfort, letting them get involved in their education and know that you care. For the teacher, it is a valuable opportunity to learn how a student is learning and the way they think. It also provides insight into a students background and how much they are investing into your class.
I think the greatest result is the fact that questioning provides the instructor with feedback relative to the level of understanding within the class. Having this realization, the instructor now knows to vary approach and discuss further in the attempt to engage all students and improve upon their level of comprehension and application of the materials being delivered.
Misty Walker
Hi Gilbert - Thanks for your post to the forum. I loved your comparison of "Sage on the Stage" to "Guide on the Side" - OK if I steal it??! Best wishes- Susan
make the questioning sessions fun as in the use of jeopardy like games - using teams or making the environment fun and stimulating will encourage students to gain information without feeling self conscious
Hi, Susan,
I have found that questioning sessions can be very effective as learning tools for a number of reasons. First, they do indeed provide the instructor with immediate feedback on how effective he or she has been in communicating the learning objectives to the students. Secondly, they provide the student with the opportunity to engage in dialogue with the instructor, especially if they have had any difficulties in grasping the concepts under discussion. Finally, if handled correctly, a questioning session allows the instructor to become less of a "sage on the stage" and more of a "guide on the side." It allows the instructor to develop a rapport with the students that facilitates interaction and enables the students to contribute more to future class discussions.
As an instructor, it is crucial to ask student to participate in questioning sessions as a learning tool. In culinary class for example, temperature, texture, methods of cooking techniques should be heard loudly and repeatedly in class, in order to be assimilated more quickly.
In our industry experience and knowledge are based on formula, practice and foremost questioning that help to reinforce tremendously procedures and techniques.