Try to keep closed questioning to a minimum; try to engage your students by asking open questions which show whether they are comprehending the material you are teaching them; give the students adequate time to answer your questions.
Jasen,
You are so right. We can challenge them to think critically in order to problem solve.
Judy Mohammed
I agree Jeff. I find that many of our students are to quick to go to the internet or other forms of media to get a quick answer. The problem is that they miss the problem solving aspect that they are gonna need to be sucessfull
Janice,
This is very good advice. This interaction makes a more interesting class.
Judy Mohammed
Laszlo,
It is good to ask questions during demos. Like you say, why questions are excellent at this time.
Judy Mohammed
Edward,
This is great advice. You seem to use questioning very well in the classroom.
Judy Mohammed
Sudarshan Daniel,
This is true. Open questions offer more interactions and discussions.
Judy Mohammed
I incorporate a combination of both closed and open ended questions in my class, however, I will start asking more open ended one's to foster better active participation, learning and test results.
The first thing I would share with a new instructor is never ask a question that you aren't prepared to respond to in several ways. Each student will answer questions differently, even though the answers may seem the same. But, we must be prepared to accept it, redirect, probe, or praise.
Second, use a variety of questioning techniques. You teach with variety and you should use variety in your questioning.
Third, listen to what the student is saying. I have had many students who know what the correct answer is; they just have a problem with their communication skills. If you think they might have the pieces but aren't putting them together in a cohesive statement, help them to reformulate their answer.
Last, there are no absolutes. Always be open to surprises. That's a good part of what we do.
Ned
Our classes are mainly hands-on (massage therapy),
so it is important that the questions asked relate to the practical part of the material being taught. Also, making sure that the information was given and properly explained.
I like starting my questions with a "why", that changes a closed question to an open one, for the students it's more interesting. Asking closed questions can make them feel uncomfortable.
1. When asking questions of students; always use their name. Make a seating chart if you need help with remembering. Using their name makes them feel comfortable and that their participation is important.
2. Allow the student time to answer. If they can't answer, try restating the question and then open it to the class in a different way, so to not embarass the student.
3. Never act like a question asked is ignorant or unimportant. I always tell my students that the only bad question is the unasked question.
Harold,
I have longb discovered that each class has its own personality, quite different from the previous class. This makes it interesting for us. Your technique is good.
Judy Mohammed
I have found that every class of students is different and the questions you asked your last class may not work with the current class. I usually start off with fairly basic questions about the topic and after three of four questions I tend to have the students reply to each others answers. This gets the ice broke, so that everyone feels comfortable about answering questions.
Pedro ,
I do the same with my questions in an attempt to get students involved.
Judy Mohammed
I use often open ended questions and send students the message that most of the time there is not right or wrong answer. This usually econrages them to participate
Tom,
These are all good pices of advice. Wait time is so important and it takes some getting used to.
Judy Mohammed
Mike,
These are all good tips to share. Did you use them prior to taking this course?
Judy Mohammed
The three things I would tell the new instructor are to ask more open ended questions than closed, but both are important. Also give adequate. time for students to answer and lastley to end with reinforcement and praise
I would explain:
The difference between closed and open questions.
What procedural questions are.
How to effectively use wait times, redirection and probing.
The balance of 60% closed, 20% open, and 20% procedural.
Todd,
This is excellent advice. You use questioning very well in your classes. You would be an excellent mentor to other instructors.
Judy Mohammed
