I like to sometimes reply to questions with one of my own. Especially if I believe they understand the question well enough that the reply to mine will turn on the lightbulb. This way the student comes up with the correct repsonse on their own boosting their confidence in the process.
David,
I see that you are very familiar with using questions. With open questions, we have to be vigilant about time and staying on topic.
Judy Mohammed
Jeff,
Questioning is a great tool, but it must be used appropriately. We should never just give out answers, in fact, most of my responses are other probing questions to help guide students to the correct information.
Judy Mohammed
I think the basics of questioning in the class room are to one try never to say that the students answer is wrong. I try to find a way to get the student to think about their answer and possibly give a better answer. If there answer is partially right I will use the correct information to extract the rest of the correct answer.
using question can keep the class involved if they are asked upon to answer a question then they need to be ready for and qustion that may be asked
As I cross train instructors, I explain that open and closed questions help to find out what the students are retaining. We also explain to new instructors that in the lab area is a good place to ask recollection type questions. Have the students explain how they are going to run the test, and how they are going to use what they learned in class and apply it to the lab work.
Self doubt is a huge hurdle to get over, most adult students have gone through life without the support of their peers and facilitators, so it is tough for them to accept that they actually might know the correct answer
Adam,
Great advice. Please be sure to share it with new teachers.
Judy Mohammed
Eric,
That is great advice. It is so easy to let the one students answer but we need to be vigilant about class participation from all students.
Judy Mohammed
many times this also lets others see they knew the answer all along and could have answered the questions also
The first technique I would encourage the new instructor to use are open questions whenever time allows. Second, I would definitely tell the new instructor to work on the redirect and probing techniques to deal with all the incorrect answers he/she is sure to encounter while having a Q & A session with a class. Third would be to work on the wait times for answers and responses. I believe those are very useful questioning techniques.
I think it takes time for new instructors to be confident with their own ability to answer questions. At the begining it seems like closed questions are almost an intentional way of keeping the questions they field to a minimum. With time comes confidence. The thing I try to teach new instructors first is to not let "that one student" answer every question. Always going to the one student that will have the right answer is a crutch. Its the students that are struggling that need to be encouraged to participate.
Try to avoid using too many closed questions. Sometimes that is not possible, but by adding an open question to the end of a closed question, like simply asking, "How?", or "Why?", requires more thought from the student. I would also say to ask questions of individual students rather than the class as a whole. This will tend to make the others pay closer attention to the material you are giving them in anticipation of being asked a question. The third thing I would share with a new instructor, and perhaps the most important, is to never tell a student their answer is wrong. Try to find some value in every answer you get, or try to get more specific information from the student that gives what appears to be a wrong answer. He or she may be on the right track but having difficulty articulating the response you are looking for.
I like to use variations of the different type of questions; an instructor needs to be conscious of students learning style. If they are hesitant, more direct, closed questions tend to work the best. If a class is fully involved, more open ended, relation and interpretation questions work. You have to be aware that when asking open ended questions that students may take you in a new or different direction than you intended, so you have to keep an open mind, so that you do not squash their enthusiasm. I will also use reinforcement techniques and praise to try to draw out reluctant students into the conversation. You can also use closed questions to keep a discussion on track with a class that takes an open ended question too far.
I like to Point out that Instructors like to Answer the Questions and student tend to not want to work for the answers to the Questions! So Good Questioning technics help to build confidence in the student and addresses giving away Answers to freely for the Instructor!
Robin,
these are all good pieces of advice. I always plan(and write) my questions into my lessons. I learned the value of this many years ago and I still use it.
Judy Mohammed
Lance,
Many times we forget that we can draw from the knowledge and experiences of our colleagues, so it is great that you recommend this to new teachers.
Judy Mohammed
Be patient while waiting for student answers. Make sure you keep a positive atitude when they answer incorectly. Make sure the questions you ask are covered some where in the material.
One of the items I would want to share with a new instructor would be to make sure that the questions that they are asking of the class pertains to the lesson. Another would be to make sure of the answers that they are wanting from the class. The last would be sure to write your questions down and read them off; until they have a good understanding of the questions they want to ask.
Well I would tell him to make and write open ended questions before class and row play them with friends and family and see what kind of responses they have.
ask other instructors use there knowledge
and wait for a response give the student time to respond.
