BUILDING LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS
What Engaging Questions Are You Asking Your Students?
High Impact Questions
Have you ever listened to student conversations in the cafeteria? You just might hear some extremely animated conversations about the latest video game, new dance song, or an embarrassing predicament. If students are interested in a topic, chances are they will be very engaged in it.
The challenge for us as teachers is to ask questions that prompt the same level of engagement and thought that takes place in those high-energy cafeteria conversations. How do we ask good questions that engage students intellectually; hook them into thinking and learning? Let's take a look at some of the types of questions we can ask.
Instructional Coach Tammy Haefer
The challenge for us as teachers is to ask questions that prompt the same level of engagement and thought that takes place in those high-energy cafeteria conversations. How do we ask good questions that engage students intellectually; hook them into thinking and learning? Let's take a look at some of the types of questions we can ask.
Instructional Coach Tammy Haefer
Open or Closed Questions
Open Questions are those questions that have an unlimited number of responses. For example, if you ask, "What do you like about the Beatles?" there are many different ways to answer the question. The number of possible answers can't be counted.
Closed Questions are the opposite of open questions in that they have a finite number of possible answers. For example, if you ask, "Which four US states border Texas?" the person answering will reach a point where he or she has named them all. Since the possible number of answers for a closed question is limited, at some point the question can be completely answered.
Closed Questions are the opposite of open questions in that they have a finite number of possible answers. For example, if you ask, "Which four US states border Texas?" the person answering will reach a point where he or she has named them all. Since the possible number of answers for a closed question is limited, at some point the question can be completely answered.
Right or Wrong Questions / Opinion Questions
Right or Wrong Questions have either a correct or incorrect answer. The purpose of a right or wrong question is to determine whether or not students understand something that has been taught or learned. There is nothing inferior or superior about right or wrong questions, but teachers need to be careful to use them when they are appropriate.
Opinion Questions don't have a right or wrong answers. For example, if you ask someone, "What did you think of the movie tonight?" you are prompting the person to give his or her opinion. Opinion questions are effective catalysts for conversations because they remove the main reason why students don't speak up in class--they are afraid of giving an incorrect answer. Students are much more likely to participate in discussions when teachers use this approach to questioning!
Opinion Questions don't have a right or wrong answers. For example, if you ask someone, "What did you think of the movie tonight?" you are prompting the person to give his or her opinion. Opinion questions are effective catalysts for conversations because they remove the main reason why students don't speak up in class--they are afraid of giving an incorrect answer. Students are much more likely to participate in discussions when teachers use this approach to questioning!
Levels of Questions; Knowledge-Skills-Big Ideas
Knowledge Questions prompt students to demonstrate that they can remember information they have learned. Such questions are usually closed.
Skill Questions prompt students to apply knowledge to new situations and explain how to do something. Such questions are often open and closed.
Big Idea Questions prompt students to demonstrate that they comprehend the information they have learned. They are the questions that often lead students to "aha" moments. Such questions are usually open.
Skill Questions prompt students to apply knowledge to new situations and explain how to do something. Such questions are often open and closed.
Big Idea Questions prompt students to demonstrate that they comprehend the information they have learned. They are the questions that often lead students to "aha" moments. Such questions are usually open.
Improving Your Questioning Skills
The above high-impact questions are by no means the only way to think about the questions you ask. However, taking the time to reflect and consider the type, kind and level of questions you ask is a great place to start improving questioning skills. Also, having a clear understanding of your current reality will help improve questioning methods. How many questions do you think you ask in a 30-minute lesson versus how many you actually ask, can differ greatly. The same type of reflection on how many questions do you think your students ask versus how many they actual ask is often vastly different as well.
Instructional Coaching: Building a Learning Partnership with Teachers
Tammy Haefer
Crowley ISD
Crowley ISD
Email: tammy.haefer@crowley.k12.tx.us
Website: www.crowley.k12.tx.us
Location: 512 Peach Street, Crowley, TX, United States
Phone: 817-297-5226