Questioning as Assessment
by Laura Schoen
Traditional vs. Innovative Questioning Strategies--How can teachers engage all students?
Traditional
*IRE--teacher initiates, students respond, and teacher evaluates.*Typically, one student at a time is engaged with the teacher.
Innovative
*Dr. Spencer Kagan has developed learning structures that engage all students. Why ask only one child to respond when everyone can be engaged?
*Kagan Structure--Rally Robin --The teacher asks a question (What do you know about the solar system?) Students work with a partner and take turns listing items.
*Kagan Structure--Pair and Share --The teacher asks a question (What do you think the character will do next?) Students work with a partner, and each one shares a response and provides feedback (Kagan, A-Brief-History-of-Kagan-Structures).
Levels of Questioning--How can teachers help students think at higher levels?
*Develop questions at varying levels according to students' needs.
*Prepare a list of questions pertaining to a topic prior to the lesson to ensure various levels of learning are addressed.
* "As Common Core State Standards focus on increasingly complex thinking and achievement goals, related assessments must follow" (Afflerbach, p. 56).
Different Perspectives on Questioning--How can students demonstrate understanding of content?
Things to Remember
*Provide ample wait time for students to think and respond. Wait time varies according to students' needs.
*Plan ahead. By utilizing a variety of questioning strategies, "students learn that what they read is often worthy of investigation and challenge" (p. 68).
References
Kagan, S. A Brief History of Kagan Structures. CA: Kagan Publishing. Kagan Online Magazine, Spring 2003. http://www.kaganonline.com/free_articles/dr_spencer_kagan/256/A-Brief-History-of-Kagan-Structures