Asking Questions in the Classroom

1. Asking Questions in the Classroom M.O. Thirunarayanan, Ph.D. August 21, 2008

3. Why Ask Questions? Questions make students think. Enable students to focus on a topic. Allows teacher to check if students know the content. Questions can be used to initiate and facilitate discussions. Questions improve student learning.

4. What Kinds of Questions? Questions that result in closed or �yes� or �no� responses. Open-ended questions that result in more thoughtful responses. Low level and High level questions

5. Other Ways of Classifying Questions Convergent and divergent questions Questions that are based on Bloom�s taxonomy: the cognitive domain. Questions that are based on Bloom�s taxonomy: the affective domain.

6. Bloom�s Taxonomy Knowledge Comprehension Application Analysis Synthesis Evaluation

7. Bloom�s Taxonomy �Knowledge observation and recall of information knowledge of dates, events, places knowledge of major ideas mastery of subject matter Question Cues:list, define, tell, describe, identify, show, label, collect, examine, tabulate, quote, name, who, when, where, etc.� (Source: http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learning/exams/blooms-taxonomy.html)

8. Bloom�s Taxonomy �Comprehension understanding information grasp meaning translate knowledge into new context interpret facts, compare, contrast order, group, infer causes predict consequences Question Cues: summarize, describe, interpret, contrast, predict, associate, distinguish, estimate, differentiate, discuss, extend� (Source: http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learning/exams/blooms-taxonomy.html)

9. Bloom�s Taxonomy �Application use information use methods, concepts, theories in new situations solve problems using required skills or knowledge Questions Cues: apply, demonstrate, calculate, complete, illustrate, show, solve, examine, modify, relate, change, classify, experiment, discover� (Source: http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learning/exams/blooms-taxonomy.html)

10. Bloom�s Taxonomy �Analysis seeing patterns organization of parts recognition of hidden meanings identification of components Question Cues:analyze, separate, order, explain, connect, classify, arrange, divide, compare, select, explain, infer� (Source: http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learning/exams/blooms-taxonomy.html)

11. Bloom�s Taxonomy �Synthesis use old ideas to create new ones generalize from given facts relate knowledge from several areas predict, draw conclusions Question Cues:combine, integrate, modify, rearrange, substitute, plan, create, design, invent, what if?, compose, formulate, prepare, generalize, rewrite� (Source: http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learning/exams/blooms-taxonomy.html)

12. Bloom�s Taxonomy �Evaluation compare and discriminate between ideas assess value of theories, presentations make choices based on reasoned argument verify value of evidence recognize subjectivity Question Cuesassess, decide, rank, grade, test, measure, recommend, convince, select, judge, explain, discriminate, support, conclude, compare, summarize� (Source: http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learning/exams/blooms-taxonomy.html)

13. Wait-Time Do not bombard students with questions. Wait time 1 � Wait 3 to 5 seconds after asking a question Wait-time 2 � Wait 3 to 5 more seconds after the student responds to the question.

14. Some Practical Tips for Asking Questions Put students at ease by asking easy questions at the beginning of the semester. Build students� self-confidence by asking questions that they can answer. Slowly build up the level of difficulty of questions. This way, students will not feel threatened or overwhelmed by questions.

15. Practical Tips (Continued) Both men and women should get challenging questions. Students of diverse backgrounds should be asked equally challenging questions. Avoid selecting the same students when it come to asking questions.

16. Practical Tips (Continued) Ask the question first, and then select a student. Give students an option to �pass� if they are unable to or do not wish to answer the question. Start a discussion Do not ask �any questions�?

17. What Questions Do You Have?