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Imagine a classroom where every hand is raised, and every eye is eager to learn more.
Sounds unrealistic, right?
In our classrooms, the majority of students are afraid to ask questions from the teacher due to peer pressure and self-consciousness.
But what would happen if the teacher would stop asking questions from students?
There won’t be any progress in their knowledge, and they will not be fully interested in the class.
Asking questions is important because it promotes critical thinking in students and enhances their learning abilities. As a teacher, you can use various questioning techniques in class to help your students grow.
Asking tough and probing questions helps your students learn more about a subject. If you think your student is only scratching the top of something important, you might want to ask them a few deep questions to get them to think even further.
There isn't always a single right answer to probing questions that are "open-ended." You're pushing your student to think about the subject and talk about it in their unique way.
By asking probing questions, you can get students to think critically and understand a subject better. It also helps you learn more about how the student thinks by seeing how they answer the question.
If your student needs to come up with new ideas for a project or paper, your questions can also help them do that. You can ask deep questions in an endless number of ways. Here are some of the ideas for you to follow:
People often use redirecting questions in class or group talks, but mostly in online sessions. Someone who isn't answering is asked a redirecting question, which either gets them to answer or lets them fix their mistake if they gave the wrong answer.
A redirecting question can help you get the talk back on track if it gets stuck. This not only keeps things from getting awkward but also keeps the process smooth.
Here are some examples of retrieving questions:
The Socratic Method says that students and teachers should have a dialogue where the teacher asks deep questions to learn more about a subject, and the student answers with how they are thinking about it. This helps them get the most out of the tutoring session.
When you use the Socratic Method, you make sure that your student is involved in the process of learning. Make sure that they think about each question in a different or more complex way.
The Socratic Method is not a strict set of questions that your student has to know the right answer to. It's a discussion between a teacher and a student.
Often we find ourselves diverting from the topic while we are chatting. This is fine; it prompts your students to think outside the box and connect different subjects.
There are six ways you can ask questions using the Socratic method:
Read More: The Complete List of Teaching Methods and Strategies
Most teachers often don't give students enough time to answer a question, which is a mistake. We know, that being able to wait in silence while your student thinks can be hard — but a little patience will help you. Studies show that waiting after asking a question makes learning a lot better for the student.
However, on average teachers only give 0.9 seconds to students to respond.
There should be a 3–5 second wait after you ask the question; pause, and wait for your student to come up with an answer before you respond or continue speaking.
It takes some time to get used to waiting before throwing another question in your student’s way, but you’ll get used to it.
If you give your students proper time to think, their answers are more likely to be thorough, original, and sensible. You let them know it's time to talk when you wait for their answer, which cuts down on the times your student was unresponsive.
After using wait time, it should be easier for your students to explain how they came to their conclusions, but sometimes they might not know how to answer one of your questions.
You can use a rephrasing question instead of asking the same question three times in a row with the hopes that the third time will be the trick and the answer will just come to them.
Your student will understand the question better if you ask it in a different way with a rephrasing question.
Instead of telling your student, "No, you're wrong," you can change the wording of the question to help them find the right answer. It will give the student more chances to figure out the answer on their own, which will boost their confidence.
Say you're almost done with your tutoring lesson and want to know,
"What did you learn today?" The student looks at you blankly and shrugs.
"Okay, what was one new thing we talked about today?" is another way to ask that question. Your student will give a more detailed answer to this question, and coming up with a new idea becomes simpler.
Another technique you can use is to call upon a reticent student who is not responding to you. Choose a student who has not put up his hand to answer the query.
Cold calling is a great way to involve reluctant students in class and get them accountable for their learning. This keeps them on their toes and encourages them to concentrate in class if they have not done it before.
You can use this strategy in two situations:
In the first example, you probably will have students who all understand the concept you taught them. However, some students in class lack understanding. So, it’s better to include them in the discussion by asking questions.
Apart from that, some students get self-conscious so they don't want to go out of their comfort zone to answer a question. In this situation, cold calling works best because you are giving them a chance to speak and be confident eventually.
Secondly, if you've tried all these strategies and students are still not raising their hands, you might need to cold call to start the discussion. Sometimes, just the possibility of a cold call can motivate students to participate.
If cold calling doesn't work and students can't answer your questions, consider that you might not have taught the material effectively. In such cases, if a cold-called student can't answer and no one else can either, try explaining the concept again.
Now that you’ve mastered some of the most commonly used questioning techniques, it’s time to level up your standing as a teacher with some bonus tips.
You can also use these methods to keep the students engaged in class:
Think-pair-share method: it is a great way to keep the students engaged in the classroom. You can ask students to
Think — Think their answers through and write them down
Pair — Discuss them with their fellows
Share — Share the ideas with the class
Pose- pause-pounce- bounce: It is an effective strategy as well. You pose a question to the class, pause for a while, pounce the question to a student, and bounce that student’s answer to another student.
Question wall: To actively involve students in class discussion, ask them to think about the questions they have and place them on a wall for everyone to see and respond to.
Discussion continuum: Pose a question and divide the class into small groups.
Now, ask them to have a discussion regarding the topic and come up with an answer collectively.
How Questioning Assesses Students?
According to research, questions assess students in terms of these qualities:
Related Topic: Types of Assessment in Education - Definition, Benefits, and Examples
Questioning is the fundamental strategy teachers use to assess the standing of their students in terms of knowledge and understanding.
It is a good classroom practice that promotes critical thinking and enhances other skills in students.
The benefits are multiple, let’s have a look at them separately:
Studies indicate that questions activate the part of the brain that works with cognitive processes.
As discussed in Bloom’s Taxonomy when students are asked to analyze, evaluate, or create an answer they are set to be involved in higher-order thinking.
So, questions deepen their understanding and help them apply knowledge in new and various contexts.
Active learning means the students are actively involved in the learning process.
Studies show that when students are actively learning something, their critical thinking skills are boosted.
Open-ended questions compel students to engage with the material rather than just passively consume information. Due to this engagement of students they are involved in critical thinking, reflect on their mistakes, and draw conclusions based on what they have studied.
Effective questioning improves the meta-cognitive abilities of students — awareness of one’s thought processes.
Research indicates that meta-cognitive abilities are required for deeper critical thinking skills and enhanced learning processes.
When teachers ask students questions that require them to explain their reasoning and consider alternative perspectives, they become more aware of their cognitive abilities and biases. It leads to more reflective and thoughtful learning.
Critical thinking means applying knowledge in new and unfamiliar situations.
This transfer of knowledge is facilitated during the question/answer session in a classroom. When students are challenged with probing questions that require them to apply different concepts to different situations, they develop this skill called critical thinking.
Without any questions, students are just listening in class without being fully engaged in the topic being taught. They will move to rote learning before exams because they didn't participate in any class discussions. Memorization and cramming will be the only two saviors left.
But, to instill critical thinking in the students and drive them to think flexibly out of the box, tutors must take relative measures.
When students are encouraged to answer and ask questions in class, the classroom environment shifts from passive to active participation.
Everyone collaborates and a culture of openness is cultivated in class. Students explore answers to difficult questions collaboratively and discuss with each other promoting deeper thinking and critical engagement.
This class will transform into active thinkers who are not just there for attendance but to learn something new.
Questioning is closely linked to problem-solving, an important aspect of critical thinking.
Research suggests that when teachers ask problem-related questions or scenarios that require students to think critically and creatively to find solutions, they enhance their problem-solving skills.
This practice helps students learn to break down difficult topics, consider multiple solutions, and make informed decisions.
Teachers can create a supportive and non-judgmental environment where students feel comfortable asking questions. Providing individualized support can also help overcome students' hesitancy. Another thing that the teachers can do is to ask questions from the students who are hesitant and give them more chances by increasing their wait time after every question.
Yes, in online classrooms, teachers can utilize techniques like posing questions in chat discussions, using polling tools for quick responses, or incorporating interactive features in virtual platforms to engage students in questioning.
To ensure meaningful discussions, teachers can ask open-ended questions that require critical thinking and encourage students to explain their reasoning. They can also facilitate peer-to-peer discussions and provide feedback to guide students toward deeper understanding.
Teachers can use techniques such as Bloom's Taxonomy to design questions that promote higher-order thinking skills such as analysis, evaluation, and creation. They can also scaffold questions to gradually increase complexity and challenge students to apply their knowledge in different contexts.
Teachers can vary the types and difficulty levels of questions, provide ample wait time for students to respond, and offer supportive feedback rather than criticism. Creating a safe and inclusive classroom environment where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for learning can also help alleviate student anxiety.
Being a teacher is an overwhelming experience because there’s a responsibility of your student’s success on your shoulders.
You have to be completely involved in your students’ journey towards their goals. We have mapped out detailed questioning strategies that you can use in class to up the understanding level of your students.
If you think you’re capable, and have the required experience and qualifications to be a great tutor, you can apply here and start teaching!
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