Blog Post #4: What questions do we ask? How do we ask?

The question proposed for this weeks blog is "What do we need to know about asking questions to be an effective teacher?" To answer this question I looked into the sources provided and chose three that I thought help shine light on the answer to the question. The three sources that I chose are: , Three Ways to Ask Better Questions in the Classroom, The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom and Asking Questions to Improve Learning. 

Firstly, I found that the best way is to prepare your questions before you enter the classroom. As stated in Three Ways to Ask Better Question in the Classroom, Maryellen Weimer said "When you write out a question, you can make it clearer … not just the wording, but clearer conceptually.  Is it the question that needs to be asked? When is the best time to ask it? I can list more reasons why preparing questions is such a good idea, but I think if you try it, you’ll be persuaded." Before this statement Maryellen explained her own experience with going into a classroom unprepared to ask questions. She said she would asked a question and be met with silent because her students did not understand what she asked. In Maryellen's second point, she explains that a teacher must "play" with the questions and give the students time to think about what they think is the answer. A teacher needs to be able to give the students activities or information to produce the answer. Lastly, teachers need to keep good answers that her students give her and revise them for later use or examples. The job of a good teacher is to teach students the importance of questions and the process behind finding the answer.

Second, I found that in The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom the answer to understanding how to question your students one must first understand the goal behind asking a question. The goal is to help the students to understand the subject and gauge their understanding. The general questions that most teachers throw into the air to their students are just plain boring. The most effective way to gauge a students knowledge is to ask a question and if no one responses to call on someone and if they can not explain then to explain the answer yourself. 

Lastly, I found that Asking Questions to Improve Learning is a great source to understand the wrong way to ask questions in the classroom. A few of the main points presented by this article are to keep in mind your course goals, avoid leading type questions, do not ask to many questions at once, and ask clear and specific questions. A good teacher shows interest in everyones answers even if they are wrong and help to develop responses to encourage the students to think about the subject at large. A great way to open a discussion is to use opening questions and to get the students minds going. 

In summary, I believe that the answer to the question, What do we need to know about asking questions to be an effective teacher?, is to keep your questions simple and clear and on the topic, keep your goals in mind, and to help get the students involved in the discussion whether they are right or wrong and to help them understand the right answer. A teacher needs to be ready for anything and be prepared when entering the classroom by writing down their opening questions.

(Students raising their hands in a classroom)