What do we need to know about asking questions to be an effective teacher?
In order for teachers to ask effective questions, they must first understand the difference between close-ended and open-ended questions. Close-ended questions are questions that require a minimal response. These questions do not generate a level of higher thinking. An example of a close-ended question is "What color is the sky?" However, open-ended questions provoke higher thinking from students. An example of an open-ended question is "What do you think about this?" It is obvious that educators will want to ask open-ended questions more often than close-ended questions.
The article The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom focuses on the wrong ways teachers ask questions. Many teachers ask if everyone understands the material and moves on before all of the students have completely grasped the concept. The article provides a great technique for asking questions in the classroom. The technique is pausing after asking a question to the class as a whole. Doing this will enable every student to think before the teacher calls on a specific student to answer the question.
The article Asking Questions to Improve Learning gives strategies for asking questions. It discusses how to ask questions and how to respond. The article states that it is important to have follow up questions after "yes" or "no" questions. It also emphasizes being clear and specific with the questions. It is important to never ask more than one question at once in a discussion because students will be confused and won't know which question to answer. The article states that teachers should use both close-ended and open-ended questions because both are helpful in teaching. The article provides examples on how to effectively respond after asking students questions. One way is to not interrupt students when they are trying to answer. I feel like this point is something that most educators need to work on a little more. I find it very irritating when a teacher interrupts me because they think I do not know the answer simply because I'm struggling to find the right words to use.
I found these two articles to be extremely helpful, and I hope to implement some of the strategies listed above in my future classroom.
The article The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom focuses on the wrong ways teachers ask questions. Many teachers ask if everyone understands the material and moves on before all of the students have completely grasped the concept. The article provides a great technique for asking questions in the classroom. The technique is pausing after asking a question to the class as a whole. Doing this will enable every student to think before the teacher calls on a specific student to answer the question.
The article Asking Questions to Improve Learning gives strategies for asking questions. It discusses how to ask questions and how to respond. The article states that it is important to have follow up questions after "yes" or "no" questions. It also emphasizes being clear and specific with the questions. It is important to never ask more than one question at once in a discussion because students will be confused and won't know which question to answer. The article states that teachers should use both close-ended and open-ended questions because both are helpful in teaching. The article provides examples on how to effectively respond after asking students questions. One way is to not interrupt students when they are trying to answer. I feel like this point is something that most educators need to work on a little more. I find it very irritating when a teacher interrupts me because they think I do not know the answer simply because I'm struggling to find the right words to use.
I found these two articles to be extremely helpful, and I hope to implement some of the strategies listed above in my future classroom.
Great post :)
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