Effective questioning

Effective Questioning

Inquiring of the students in a variety of ways to clarify, diagnose confusion, promote discussion, or gather information and asking different types of statements.

• Avoiding the answering of one’s own questions.
  
• Allowing adequate time (> 7 seconds) after asking questions.
  
• Redirecting questions by rephrasing, prompting, allowing the use of additional materials like notes, etc.
  
• Encouraging students to interact directly with each other by asking questions, responding, and elaborating on each other’s comments
  
• Troubleshooting the reasons for silence (e.g., lack of knowledge, clarity of the questions, students’ anxiety).
  
• Asking questions that get students involved with different types of cognitive skills (e.g., recalling facts, explaining a process, analyzing a case).

• Enhances and equalizes opportunities for participation.
  
• Allows students to independently make connections.
  
• Promotes analytical thinking.
  
• Creates multi-directional interactions (i.e., TA to student, student to student).