Learnings from Ellis, K. (1993, February). Teacher Questioning Behavior and Student Learning: What Research Says to Teachers. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Western States Communication Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

 Before You Read

 

1. What role do questions have in teaching and learning? (jot down your initial ideas first!)

 

   Questions are a vital part of teaching. Questions come in a variety of forms. Questions can be used by the teacher to diagnose prior knowledge and plan lessons around it. It can also be assessment of learning at the end of a lesson or topics. Questions varies from simple closed questions that require a factual answer or can be open ended that require a higher order of thinking.

 

 

2. What questions do you have about questions? Jot them down before you read please!

 

      - What are the correct types of questions to ask?

      - Is it write to ask high order questions to a class that has students with low ability?

      - What if a students answer wrongly to a question? How do you indicate that the answer is wrong without discouraging participation?

 

 

After You Read

 

3. What role do questions have in teaching and learning? How has your response changed from “before” reading (in questions #1)?

 

    Most of my initial thought of questioning was reflected in the paper. But I was surprised to learn that ‘Questing is by far the most common communication behavior used in teaching.’ Questioning is a bigger part of learning the I first though. Good questioning strategies greatly impact the quality of teaching and learning. Questions are used by teachers to:

                       - review and check learning,

                       - to probe thought processes,

                       - to pose problems,

                       - to seek out alternative solutions,

                       - to challenge students to think critically,

                       - to reflect on issues and values.

 

4. How have your questions about questions been addressed?

 

My questions were:

 

      - What are the correct types of questions to ask?

   

     In the paper I found that there are a variety of types of questions all of which play an important part in learning.  There are many types of systems developed to help teacher pose questions. I particularly like the system created by Sanders (1966) who applied Bloom’s taxonomy (1956). I can see myself using it to create questions.

 

     - Is it right to ask high order questions to a class that has students with low ability?

     - What if a students answer wrongly to a question? How do you indicate that the answer is wrong without discoraging participation?

     

     I have learned that high order open questions are important to allow students to relate knowledge learned to real like examples. It is important to have the correct questioning behaviors and create a supportive classroom culture. Students should be given time to think and produce an answer and teachers should praise the efforts to encourage participations. Supportaive environment should be created where all students and be engaged and involve in learning from one another. 

 

5.How did coming up with your own questions BEFORE you read the material assist you in understanding the material?

 

   It helped me to look for the particular information I lacked. It helped guide my learning and become in control of my learning. I knew what I wanted to know and why so I was more motivated to learn.

 

6. How will you use this in your LP assignment?

 

   I plan to create some questions to ask the students. I will look at the system created by Sanders (1966) to pose a variety of types of questions that range from simple recalling of knowledge to higher order questions that ask students to analysis, evaluate and create.  These questions will help me guide the students learning and help them make connections to what they are learning thus making the learning experience more meaningful.