Tuesday, 8 October 2013

EDUC 450: Reading #5 – The Art of Questioning your Students

The author’s introduction of ensuring its reader that questioning is a skill that can be learned and acquired was reassuring. The entire discussion lead to the idea that this essential technique to effective teaching can be strengthened, like a muscle, and simply needs practice once we are aware of the less helpful methods (seven deadly sins).

In another course, we have discussed the use of effective questioning practices as a key method to helping our English Language Learners (ELL) but they really serve to assist all types of learners. Readings from both classes have reinforced the need to use questions that inspire critical thinking from students. Often, we adapt the more traditional approach to ask questions to which the teacher already knows the answer. Both the student and the teacher in these instances are not allowing for learning to occur. They are instead enforcing systematic and reactionary answers.


If we want our students to be motivated to learn material, than we must cause them to become interested in their own learning. Having them critically think and want to explore the concepts is accomplished with questions that have been created using critical thinking by their creator. As educators, we can only expect from our students the same type of engagement in the material that we have ourselves invested into the development of the learning environment.

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